Confession time. My parents traveled a lot, even when I was a teenager. Several times they left me at home because I had school and work. One time they went with another couple and left my mom’s car at home. One night I decided I’d go for a ride. I got in the car and started out the drive, went down to the end of the street and out on the highway. As I rounded the first curve I realized I was really doing a dumb thing – dangerous, no driver’s license and more. I prayed. “Oh God, if you’ll just help me get back home I won’t do this again!” I made it back to the house. And sure enough I didn’t ever do that again.
Oh beloved, sometimes we get to thinking we have freedom to do things that we really shouldn’t do. We think it’s dark, no one is watching and it would be fun. But if we belong to Christ there is Holy Spirit conviction that will come on us sometime during our mindless moments. This is God’s overwhelming love. He doesn’t just rescue us when we’re lost – He keeps on rescuing us all the days of our lives. All we have to do is cry out to Him and ask for help. He’s there in an instant. He’s not going to say no you’ve got yourself into this mess now get out of it.
The Lord reminds you and me this morning of who we really are.
We’re not rebellious kids bent on doing wrong – we are His righteous offspring, full of righteous deeds and full of salvation that reaches into our inner beings and gives us an unction of the Holy Spirit to do that which pleases Him. You, beloved, are His and therefore its built in to feel remorse when you’re out of sync with the Spirit and to feel confidence when you know you make right decisions. You are blessed, beloved, beyond the reaches of the far ends of the galaxy. Your blessing comes from the Only Living God, who resides above all kingdoms. You are full of promise and prosperity. Both things are beyond earthly definitions of the words – Promise denotes anointing. Prosperity denotes richness of spiritual depth that doesn’t come from the flesh. You are beautiful and safe – ransomed by the Lord Himself – for the good works of faith, not the freedom of worldly desires.
God wants you to know that He sees you and watches over you and desires to guide you in all your ways, so that wherever you go you will be an emissary of love, faith and blessings to the watching world. Unlike my parents, who traveled away from home on occasion, your Heavenly Father never leaves you. Rejoice that you have blessings driving up, blessings going out, blessings in your home and blessings in your travels.
God loves you and He’s for you. You’re not the sum of your childhood mistakes or your adult transgressions. Run home to the Lord this morning. Ask Him for a fresh infilling of His Spirit, repent, renew and remain close to Him. And live in the Light of His wonderful plan for your life which He gave to you as a beautiful gift of salvation from Christ!
Proverbs 3: 5-8 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.
Philippians 2: 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Psalm 34: 9 Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need