Devotion
Stay on the Right Path
Frances Taylor

Okay, we have just celebrated Christmas and are still in the Christmas season. Are the decorations down? Are the good feelings still there? It is just so once we have accepted Christ into our lives. It can be difficult to maintain the joy and peace of being a follower of Christ. Sometimes we want to pick and choose the commandments we take seriously, the people we choose to love and treat kindly. Just as the Israelites in the dessert turned on Moses and complained against the God who saved him, we can decide that the road to salvation is too difficult. What does Jesus mean when he asks us to love our enemies or forgive those who have hurt us? Do we really have to do that? What about telling the truth or not gossiping and ruining someone's reputation? This quote from Hebrews includes a quote from Psalm 95. The Israelites tested the Lord who saved them. We can think that just saying we believe in Jesus, being Baptized, going to church, saying our prayers is enough. But we, too, often harden our hearts and test God with holding on to grudges, failing to forgive, acting out in anger or jealousy, closing our minds or hearts to people who disagree with us. Just as we try to hold on the those feelings of Christmas we need to hold onto our love of Christ and his commandment to love others as he has loved us – especially in those situations and with those people who are the most difficult.

Prayer

Lord, help us to follow your path of love. Keep us from hardening our hearts and straying from your laws. We do not want to be those who stubbornly test the Lord's patience with our refusal to bend our will to yours. Help us to remain faithful to your way. Amen.