Shared Path, Hawkes Bay
This is what the Lord says:
“Stop at the crossroads and look around.
Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it.
Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.
But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’
I posted watchmen over you who said,
‘Listen for the sound of the alarm.’
But you replied, ‘No! We won’t pay attention!’ (Jeremiah 6: 16-17 NLT)
Jeremiah preaches repentance to the nation of Judah, before its destruction, and urges a return to the ways of God before it's too late. He gives some insights we might heed in our regular decision making processes, our own path of life.
'Stop...and look around' - there is so much hurry in our lives, choosing the right path will go so much better if we take a little time for solitude and reflection, rest even.
'Ask for the old, godly way' - some things are tried and true. We so often seek newness, but sometimes getting back to what has sustained us in the past is good. This does not exclude innovation, but the Holy Spirit reminds of God's faithfulness to us in the past. Interestingly, if we are following God's way the journey can provide 'rest for your souls.'
'I posted watchmen' - God's grace indicates that we are not left to our own devices. In God's wisdom and grace, way-markers and helpers are provided along the way. Perhaps a little less hurry will enable us to notice them.
'Listen' - God speaks in love and grace. There are opportunities to hear from the living God along the path of life. Let us travel with confidence in that knowledge.
Our paths are various but in the body of Christ, intersect for a season. It's legitimate to wrestle with decisions about which path to take at any given crossroads. Jeremiah observes that it is possible to choose wrongly and willfully. Yet we can be confident of God's answer as we stay close to God. "Ask for directions to the old road,
The tried-and-true road. Then take it. Discover the right route for your souls."(Jer 6:16 The Message)