It was a new day for breakfast and conversation with Stan at the Twelve Basket Cafe. We were enjoying our time together when he asked, “Do you remember when Jesus called Himself ‘the way’?”
“Yeah, kind of,” I responded. “Isn’t that where He also said something about being the truth and the life and that no one can come to the Father but through Him?”
“That’s it,” Stan replied, “but earlier this morning in my journaling time, I focused just on what He said about being the way.”
“What’d you focus on?”
“How, by saying that, Jesus really filled out something Solomon wrote in the Book of Proverbs.”
“Solomon and the Book of Proverbs? What’d Solomon write that relates to what Jesus said?”
“Solomon wrote that there’s a way which may seem right to us, but it’s end is the way to death,” Stan replied, “and it seems to me that the real truth here is that a person can’t know the way to anything without knowing the Way!”
“Can’t know the way to anything without knowing the way?” I replied. “Oh, I get it. A person can’t know the way to anything worthwhile without knowing Jesus, who is the Way. Is that it?”
“That’s it,” Stan agreed. “Any way apart from the Way will lead to death, but a way with the Way leads to life that begins here and will continue forever!”
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Bible verses to consider:
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, . . . ; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. John 14:6.
There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Proverbs 16:26.
I came that they may have life, and might have it abundantly. John 10:10.
Prayer: Thank you, Father for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the only way to life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I choose my own way over yours. Please forgive the foolishness of trying to live the new life you’ve provided without submitting to the only way to you both here and there. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus, who is the Way. Amen.
Think on this: Have you accepted the only way to life with God, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with submitting to the Way on this side of eternity? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?
The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does God know you need to live a life where you follow the Way to Him on both sides of eternity? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling, to see what God knows you need. He will show you!
Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?