To What Does Our Path Lead?

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 10:57 am Post subject: To What Does Our Path Lead?

To What Does Our Path Lead?

Scripture:

The land that was desolate and impassable shall be glad, and the wilderness shall rejoice, and shall flourish like the lily. It shall bud forth and blossom, and shall rejoice with joy and praise: the glory of Libanus is given to it: the beauty of Carmel, and Saron, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the beauty of our God. Strengthen the feeble hands, and confirm the weak knees. Say to the fainthearted: Take courage, and fear not: behold your God will bring the revenge of recompense: God himself will come and will save you. Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall be free.

And the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and shall come into Sion with praise, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
(Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10)

Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth: patiently bearing till he receive the early and latter rain. Be you therefore also patient and strengthen your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Grudge not, brethren, one against another, that you may not be judged. Behold the judge stands before the door. Take, my brethren, for example of suffering evil, of labor and patience, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
(James 5:7-10)

Now when John had heard in prison the works of Christ: sending two of his disciples he said to him: Are you he that are to come, or look we for another? And Jesus making answer said to them: Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he that shall not be scandalized in me. And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: What went you out into the desert to see, a reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out to see, a man clothed in soft garments? Behold they that are clothed in soft garments, are in the houses of kings. But what went you out to see, a prophet? Yea I tell you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my angel before my face, who shall prepare your way before you. Amen I say to you, there has not risen among them that are born of women a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
(Matthew 11:2-11)

Reflection:

As we look to our future, we may wonder as to what hope we might find. We see what is, but we often do not perceive what we are able to influence or what we can advance. As we face the challenges of the day, we might be tempted to believe that we have no power; that we are somehow chained by the choices and dictates of others. It is true, we do not navigate the path of our day in isolation and that others impact what we experience, but we must not forget our choices also impact those who surround us and may ripple through them as well.

What we decide and how we act or fail to act has consequences beyond ourselves. If we trust in the Lord, He will lead us to the blessings He desires for us, but we must also remember, His desires are not the desires of the world; therefore, the blessings He offers cannot be evaluated by worldly expectations.

At certain forks of our daily journey, we may turn to the desert or towards forests and pastures. What we see influences our decisions, but we must also consider what we do not see. If our decisions are only based upon our direct, physical senses, then, we might miss the green pastures and lush gardens on the far side of the barren hill. We might ask, then, how are we to know the way to turn as we stand in the darkness and we have no means by which to see what will come from our choice?

There is a Hand which is extended to lead us; One which we cannot see with the eyes of the world, rather, we can only sense it with our heart. If we open our heart to Him, He will lead us, not to the riches of worldly life, but the riches of eternal life; the wealth which only comes through His Holy Spirit; the Spirit of love.

An old clich? reminds us that what we do not know can hurt us. It is for this reason that many seek to discover information and study options so that the best courses of action might be chosen. Sometimes the study is a matter of but a few questions, observations, and answers. Sometimes the study may require years of learning, experience, and analysis. In some cases, we must trust someone who will tell us about where we have never been or what we have never seen.

So it was, that John the Baptist sent disciples tasked to ask a question so an answer might be known; and an answer was given; ?Go and tell John what you hear and see.? This answer, though, would not have any meaning to John unless he was also aware of the prophesies taught across the generations. Through observations related and the words of the prophets and scripture, John received the answer which he sought. So also may we.

God communicates to us in many and varied ways. (cf. Hebrews 1:1) If we are to comprehend, we must listen. We must observe. We must test the spirits (cf. 1 John 4:1-6) and examine the fruits (cf. Matthew 7:15-20). As we observe the signs of the times and what is done by those who speak, a choice remains before us; to accept or reject what is presented to us. If we have taken the time to learn of that through which we might test and examine, the answers we seek should be clear. If we allow Jesus to open the eyes of our heart, we shall see the path to the eternal pastures of everlasting joy.

Questions for further reflection:

What is the wilderness we perceive before us?

What are the green pastures which only the heart may see?

In what ways might we open our heart to the One who will lead us to the eternal pastures of joy?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier