W1D1 Which Way?

READ THE BIBLE

Proverbs 14:12

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

For further reading:

Read Psalm 1:1-6

It’s 6 verses long and tells us about two ways of living. When you read it ask yourself, “Which of these two ways is better?” “Where do they both end up?” “Where do I want to end up?” “How much am I living in this better way?”

REFLECT ON WHAT IT MEANS

There used to be an urban legend on the London Tube: if a passenger put their arm between the closing train doors, the doors would stop and the train would have to stay at the platform. Everyone said that was how the trains were designed. So, if you were about to miss a train, all you had to do was shove your arm between the closing doors. When the doors re-opened, you could just hop onto the train. Everyone knew this “fact”.

Then someone tried it out. And it became clear the popular belief wasn’t true. Trains were not designed like this. Sadly, the incident ended in tragedy.

We may be convinced something is right. But in reality, that may not be the case. This Bible verse tells us the same thing about our lives. When we live our life the way we think is best, it seems right to us. We can be so sure and so convinced that our opinions, what we believe, how we think about things, and how we live are right and true. However, the Bible tells us that if it’s not God’s way of living it will only end up in one place. The book of Proverbs calls that place “Death.” The Bible doesn’t just mean growing older and one day dying. It’s talking about missing out on the best life now and also in the future when we do die on this Earth. This best life comes from having a spiritual life by knowing God and understanding his ways for us to live. Our own way of living may seem right and good to us. But God says it will end up in “death.” We will end up “Dead” to spiritual things, "Dead” to knowing God, “Dead” to hearing God speak to our hearts, even dead to really knowing ourselves and others. Today, you have an opportunity to re-examine your life and be honest with yourself by asking: “How have I really been living my life? How much have I been living my life my way, or God’s way?

RELATE IT TO YOUR LIFE

If you could choose to change something in your life what would it be? If you can’t change it, what do you think God could do to change it?

RESPOND WITH A DECLARATION

“God, please help me to see and understand that your way is so much better than my way.”