Working it out <3
Yesterday I pulled up at a four way stop about the same time as another car to my left. Per courtesy, I paused to see if the other vehicle was going to go or wait or wave me on or whatever.
It was evident the driver was actively thinking through those options as the car jerked a little forward in inches and abrupt braking.
Even though he had his right turn signal on and I was going straight I decided it prudent to remain stationary until this car made its final move.
I waved an indication that he should proceed and breathed a prayer of thanks I had waited since he lurched forward, changing his turn signal to the left and taking a wide patch of the all lanes to head up the direction I would be going.
And of course his bumper was tattooed with those words we all love to see on a car … Student Driver.
I thought of that poor instructor hunched down in the seat next to him and threw up a few prayers for that guy as well.
It occurred to me that in a matter of weeks, this kid will most likely be handed a license and put in an unmarked car to be unleashed on an unsuspecting world of roads and highways.
Anywhere he wants to go, he will have the right to go if he fulfills all the obligations of acquiring his certificate to drive.
But it will be years of learning and applying the rules of the road before he is a good driver.
Hopefully.
It will take close calls and near misses and direct hits before he begins to apply and understand the knowledge that instructor is trying to instill as they traverse the highways and byways of our county in these days of training.
I take a wild leap of analogy here because Christianity is NOT a driving school-to-earn-a-license thing to follow, but a relationship with a Savior that bought us back from a death penalty we deserved so that we could follow HIM kind of deal
…however…
go with me please.
When we receive Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are immediately transferred from lost to saved/death to life/condemned to redeemed.
But we will spend the rest of whatever days we have on planet earth working out….
WORKING out (laboring…striving…WORKING it out with blood sweat and tears!)
…our salvation…
with fear and trembling.
Because we will have near misses and crashes and wanderings.
We will have questions about applications of the teachings of Christ and God’s story and plan for His people found in Scriptures.
We will journey amongst fellow believers of varied understandings of how this walk is supposed to be lived out.
We will also travel alongside many who could care less about what has become central to our lives and many who devoutly hold to their own Rules of the Road teachings.
I have been exploring some thoughts about this faith life lived in community on the blog this week. As I have listened to different teachings and sermons this week, I hear a similar theme.
We are called to navigate this working out of our own salvation amongst those IN the Body and those who want nothing to do with the Body that we are commissioned to share the Gospel with.
Did I mention this involves ….WORK?
These are times of great confusion and upheaval.
But also times of GREAT opportunity <3
I urge you, as fellow travelers who love the LORD Jesus Christ, to LIVE the GOSPEL.
We have been given the gift of salvation through Grace and while we certainly do not live it out perfectly, do not grow weary in sharing the HOPE that is in Jesus Christ.
Prayerfully ask God for opportunities to share the Gospel…even if you do not feel qualified…you are.
Don’t take my word, though…take His <3
We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,
so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way:
bearing fruit in every good work,
growing in the knowledge of God,
being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,
and giving joyful thanks
to the Father, who has qualified you
to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:8 -14 NIV
So…see you down the road <3