A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step – We’ve all heard this gem of ancient Chinese philosophy, but have we taken a moment to consider its meaning? As Christians, we identify with Jesus Christ who told us that He was the Way. The early church, which significantly identified themselves as Followers of the Way, understood that identifying with and accepting the sacrifice of Jesus was not a moment, but was a journey. Jesus said “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. We were all born once, but that birth was into the certainty of death. To be born again is to be born into the certainty of life. How many of us, though, were stillborn? It may not mean that we will not receive God’s promise, as that judgment is God’s to make. It does mean that we do not experience the fullness of walking in the Spirit, of growing in faith, of gaining a greater awareness of who we are and what has been purposed for our lives.
When I reach into the glovebox of my car I find an owner’s manual. It instructs me on how the car works, but it says nothing about where I can go. However, I need to know the former before I can explore the latter. The Bible does the same thing in our lives. It sets parameters for operation and fosters an understanding of who we are, but it leaves it to us to explore where we can go – where following the Way will take us.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step – Wear comfortable shoes!
In a dry and thirsty land 