DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- THE EASY WAY

PILGRIMS PROGRESS – THE EASY WAY

"O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You want" (Matthew 26:39).

"Now I saw in my dream that they had not journeyed far before the river parted away from their path. As their path proceeded away from the river, it became rough, and their feet were sore from their travels. Soon they saw a little way ahead of them a pleasant-looking field called By-Path Meadow."

Christian and Hopeful noticed that there was a smooth path on the other side of the fence that paralleled the path they were on. It looked so much easier walking and there was a stile over the fence. Christian thought it would be a better path. Hopeful was not so sure. "What if the path should lead us out of the way?" asked Christian. "That is not likely. Look, doesn't it go right next to our present path?" So Hopeful was persuaded by Christian to cross the fence and go into By-Path Meadow.

It is so tempting to take the easy way when the path become more difficult. The way is not always easy. We get tired, and our feet are sore. The straight and narrow path can become arduous. But there are dangers that lie along the easy path, as we shall see.

I'm so glad that Jesus did not take the easy path. He could have avoided the rough road to Calvary. But to fulfill God's plan, He had to take the hard road. He prayed to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane to find another way. Yet, "for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame" (Hebrews 12:2).

It is not always easy to say "no" to the easy road that pampers the desires of the flesh and luxury of the easy life. But there are rewards for being committed to walking God's way – "Not as I will, but as You want."

Love, Dad