Control. This is something that we all crave. We want control over our lives, our future, our marriages, our children and grand children. We want control in order to be comfortable with our lives. Looking deep into my own heart I see this desire. In one sense, it’s healthy to want to have a clear direction and grasp of your life, relationships and responsibilities. However, this desire can morph into something sinful, selfish and ego-producing. Jesus said that in order to follow him we must first deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow him (Luke 9:23-24). This is like saying, go find an electric chair and carry it around with you everywhere. It’s shocking. The cross was a symbol of shame and suffering. In a sense, we are called to take on the cross-centered life. We must deny ourselves and the comforts of this world in order to faithfully follow Jesus (Gal. 2:20).
Don’t Get Comfortable
What this means is that we must forsake being comfortable. This is a tough one for me! I am a rule follower. I thrive on schedules and keeping things in order. When something happens that is “out of place,” it throws me off mentally. I’m sure many reading this deal with the same thing. At the core, it’s an issue of control. Are you in control of your life, or is God in control of it? If you were taken out of your circumstances, your marriage, your family, your job, your church, how would you respond? Chances are you and I would struggle. I love my comfort zone and even protect it. From the teaching of Scripture, we find that God is sovereign over all circumstances, responsibilities and relationships in our lives. When he moves us in a different direction it is for a purpose. And we know that all things work together for the good of those who are called according to his good purpose (Rom. 8:28).
God is in Control
There’s purpose in the detours, the redirection of priorities and places God has you. We must remind ourselves that our sovereign, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving God is for us and that we have no reason to fear. The same God who brought dead bones to life and rose Jesus from the grave lives in us (Rom. 8:11). For the Christian, God is our Heavenly Father, who takes care of our needs. There is nothing that he can’t do, no wrong he can’t make right, no crooked path he can’t make straight. Trust him. If you’re a control freak like me, set your gaze on the glory of God, dive deep into the grace of the gospel, and let go of worldly comforts in order to serve Jesus and receive greater joy. One step at a time. One day at a time. We are on the journey together. Blessings in Christ,
Steve
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