Why This Chicken Crossed the Road

"For I have told you often before, and I say it again now with tears in my eyes, there are many who walk along the Christian road who are really enemies of the cross of Christ."  Philippians 3:18

Throughout life's journey, there are times to pause and examine where we are, why we are, and what we are becoming.  2 Corinthians 13:5 admonishes us, "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"

Recently I took the time to do just that in my prayer closet with Jesus, and afterward, as I settled down to sleep, He spoke to me.  Knowing I am a visual learner, He painted a very vivid picture of where I was.  He showed me two sidewalks and a road in-between.  The picture had Jesus on one side of the road, and I was on the other, though we were both walking in the same direction.  I was very far behind, but close enough not to lose sight of Him.  Frantically, I cried out to God.  "Lord!  Show me what this means!  I am on the wrong side of the road!  What must I do to get back to Your side?  How can I cross over?  Please show me what I must do!!"

As I entered my prayer closet overwhelmed and frantic, our loving and faithful Heavenly Father showed me exactly what I must do to cross the road.  There were worldly things and personal desires and conveniences I had allowed to take a dominant place in my life, and I must again lay them down and leave them on the other side of the road.  I quickly did this and crossed the road back to Him.  Only then did I recognize how much of Him I had been missing.  Only then could I truly hear Him, see Him.  Only then could He refine me and make me more like Himself.

Isaiah 30:15 says, "This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it."  

I don't know about you, but I want ALL of it.

And,  Luke 9:23, "Then he said to all, 'Anyone who wants to follow me must put aside his own desires and conveniences and carry his cross with him every day and keep close to me!'" 

Have you left your own desires and all the conveniences of this world aside to carry your cross every day and follow close to Jesus?  It's not a one-and-done decision.  It is a choice we must make every moment of every day.

Every. Single. Day.

This chicken crossed the road to be close to Jesus.  Have you?

Goodnight, Runners.