The Christian life is upside down. The way to be rich, is to become poor. He that would be greatest must seek to be the servant of all. Him that would save his life...must lose it. Given this confusing conundrum of curious contradictions I'm persuaded to add my own paradox to the pile: The way to keep straight is to keep turning.
The Christian life is the life of the straight and narrow path. But in order to stay straight, one must be constantly turning. I take this principle from the life of the only OT king who is given a higher commendation than King David. It was said of him that "before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart..." [2 Kings 23:25]. This was king Josiah. He was a promised king. His birth was foretold 300 years before in 1 Kings 13:1. And he was a young king. He took the throne at 8 years old (as the father of an 8 year old myself, the wonder of this could not be more clear). But the outstanding feature of this great king was the turning of his heart to the Lord. He "turned to the Lord with all his heart".
It seems to me, as I sit here at my desk, that such turning is really the only way to stay straight. I must always be turning to the Lord. The world cries out for my attention...and I must turn my attention to the Lord. My heart gets discouraged...and I must turn my heart to Christ. I get afraid...and I need to turn my fears over to my God and cast them before Him. Every moment I sense some new straying within me...and every moment I need to be turning me feet back upon the path. Turning began my Christian life...and holy turning must always be a part of it. "For we were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls" (I Peter 2:25).
1 comment:
Well said.
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