Getting Back on Track
by Malcolm Wood
In our desire to move on in our Christian experience there is always a danger that in our eagerness to learn more we may become overwhelmed by all the teaching, reading, and counsel we receive. Consequently we may become confused, disheartened and perhaps disillusioned as we struggle to find our way.
The good news is that the Lord doesn`t want us to struggle, He has given us His Spirit as guide and comforter and His word to instruct and encourage. The verse above reminds us to seek the path way which is proven, certain and true.
Recently I heard a businessman on television talking about the need to relaunch his company as in recent years it had lost its way and its popularity in the market place. As the company had grown, new ideas new techniques, new policies etc had been taken on board and as a result the company now seemed to be sinking under complicated systems and proceedures and had lost its way. An important part of this CEO`s relauch strategy package was to revert to the fundamental principles on which he had founded the business.
These three princples, as best I remember them, were Simplicity, Focus and Reality.
Principles which could possible help us:
Simplicity. The gospel message, ie God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.(John 3:16,) is not rocket science and doesn`t need a degree in Theology to understand it. In our lives we do tend to complicate things and yet what does God require of us- `to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God`. Micah 6:8(NLT) So simple!
Focus. There are so many distractions today that we have to make every effort to remain focused on 1) The Lord, remembering all that he made available for us at Calvary
2) His Word - keeping it as plumbline against which we measure everything else.
3) The work/ministry he has called us to. That, according to 1 Peter 2:9, is to show others the goodness of God
Reality. We need to remember that we are sinners saved by grace living in a fallen world. As we wait for the Lords return we need to keep our eyes upward with our feet on the ground and be reaching out to those around with the message of love and hope we have received.
Prayer: Dear Lord help me to have that simple childlike faith, to seek only your ways, to see you more clearly,and to be able to see others as you see them.Help me to demonstrate your love in the real world around me. Amen.
Malcolm Wood and his wife Anna became part of the Ellel family as House Managers at Ellel Grange in 1990. Since then they have been involved with many aspects of the developing Ministry. From 2001 until 2015 they were Directors of Ellel Scotland where they hosted several International Schools and Operation Blairmore and helped pioneer the exciting Creative Inspiration Weeks. They have three sons.
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