Scripture

Our verse for today comes from John 5:45, “Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you – Moses, in whom you trust.”

Background

I noticed this statement this past weekend – “When using any driving directions or map, it’s a good idea to double check and make sure the road still exists and watch out for construction. This is only to be used as an aid in planning.” That warning was at the bottom of the online directions I used to direct me to a retreat last weekend. It’s a pretty standard caveat for any online map site, and as such, I think it gets dismissed as some type of disclaimer for the site rather than being viewed as an actual piece of useable advice. But based on some comments I heard from others who made the same trip, that warning carried a whole lot of truth with it. Several people were led down roads that were under construction and part of a detour. The roads they drove didn’t exactly take them to where the map indicated they would. I’m not certain how you make sure a road still exists that’s three hours away, but in their case, there was a clear need to at least watch out for construction. The directions were certainly more of an aid in planning than a guaranteed route to be trusted. And they’re no different than anything else in our life.

Application

Your skill, success, and talent are all vital to your current lifestyle, but they are not to be trusted. There will come a time when they might no longer exist, or are under serious construction. And then what? The hope you had in them is gone. No, the places where we rest our hope and the things in which we put our trust are meant for other purposes. They are given to us as an aid, and an accuser. For they should only be held dear in our hearts to the extent that they reveal our need for God. Their frailty and uncertainty should point us to the One who is our Rock, and in whom is no shadow of turning. And when we do not follow their redirection, but lean too deliberately on their temporal importance, they are the accusers that indict us for our idol worship. The signs are there, the maps readily available. It’s a good idea to use them to get to God.

Charge

As we seek Him today, let the blessings and the struggles be your road map to direct you to Jesus. Take all your hope in yourself and anything else, and place it all on the glorious Savior.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words