Saturday, January 28, 2017

Independence January 28, 2017




Proverbs 2:6-8 (NIV)
6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, 8 for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.

The young man decided to take his car out for a spin on Highway 19 near Crystal River in Florida.

He was pretty excited. What young man wouldn't be? It was the first time he would be taking his car out on the open road all by himself. Sure, he had been on the highway plenty of times before, but on those trips dad had always been with him. This time things would be different. He was going to be independent and take control. That's why he didn't tell dad or ask for permission.

Although he thought he was completely ready and mature enough for such an excursion, he wasn't.

It didn't take too long before 911 calls were being made to the police. Squad cars were dispatched and they soon found the boy. He was surrounded by caring and compassionate onlookers ... people who were shocked at what they were seeing.

And just what were these folks seeing that shocked them?

Well ... they were seeing a three-year-old boy who had, while his father was in the bathroom, managed to climb on a chair, undo the door locks, get behind the wheel of his electric truck, and make a break for freedom. They were looking at a three-year-old who, clothed in diaper and T-shirt, had braved the 52-degree temperatures and gone for a drive. They were looking at a three-year-old who had managed to escape his father's detection and driven 500 yards to the highway, where he managed to get to the median, before someone stopped him.

They were looking at a three-year-old who had been saved by God's grace and some overworked guardian angels.

Oh, they were also looking at a three-year-old boy who is a fine example of the human race.

It's true, you know. We, like that boy, think we are mature and ready to be independent. We think we are prepared to tackle any problem that might come our way. Because we feel that way, we show our independence and disregard our Father's will and wishes. Feeling we know better than the Lord, we take the wheel of our lives and head out.

It is a disastrous choice. No matter how wise or mature we think we are, we ought to know the Heavenly Father knows best. When we are with Him and listen to Him, we are safe. If we choose to disregard and disobey Him -- if we ignore the Savior's sacrifice and salvation -- we are, like that little boy in Florida, on a collision path with disaster.

Far better to trust the Lord, listen to His Words, and put ourselves in His hands. When that happens, as the author of Proverbs said, the Lord will watch "over the ways of His saints."


Thought for today:  Do I commit fully to God?

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