Psalm 27:14 (CSB)
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Wait for the Lord.
As a young boy, every trip to the grocery store with my mom was a wonderful adventure. I always had two destinations on my radar: the candy and cereal aisles. One day, as I stood among all that wonderful candy, I began to formulate an idea in my mind. I was thinking that if I could just take one of those bags of candy out the door of the store without anyone knowing it, that would be proof of my maturity, independence, and manhood.
Scanning all around me when no one was looking, I slipped a bag of candy into my pocket. Cool as a cucumber, I followed my mom back to the car, the candy package in my pocket a constant reminder of my victory. Not even able to wait until we got out of the parking lot, I decided to reveal what I had done.
As I pulled out the package of candy, I eagerly scanned my mother's expression. I was expecting her to explode with pride. But to my horror, I was met with a look of absolute shock. My mother slammed on the brakes, did a Batmobile like U-turn right there in the parking lot, and took me back into the store. There, under the grimace of my mom, I returned the candy and confessed my transgressions to the store manager. My attempt to prove my independence backfired spectacularly.
Have you ever done this in your relationship with your heavenly Father? The temptation to jump ahead of God and do our own thing the way we want to is constantly swirling around in our minds. The world and culture we live in are always sending us a message to prove our autonomy, to take matters into our own hands, to be the captain of our ship, and to let our hearts guide us into our destiny. At the root of this message of independence is the temptation to be our own god.
Do you ever struggle with the urge to step ahead of God? One of the fundamental principles of Kingdom living is following Jesus. Notice how Jesus instructs us to follow Him in Luke 9:23 (CSB), “Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Jesus doesn’t say, “Go your own way, do your own thing, and follow me.” But this is something we all struggle with from time to time, from one degree to another. To effectively follow Jesus requires that we deny ourselves to the point of dying to our worldly wants and desires “daily.”
The call to deny ourselves, to take up our cross daily, and to follow Jesus is an invitation to experience the abundant life of the Kingdom (John 10:10). It's a call to change the way we view things from focusing on our self-interest to seeking first God's Kingdom purpose, trusting in His wisdom and provision. Going our own way might seem appealing in the short run, but it always ends in disappointment and heartache. But following Jesus, although it can be difficult, ultimately brings peace, joy, fulfillment, and identity.
So my mother did not kick me out of the house; she even allowed me to go back to the grocery store with her. But I never stole again; I wasn't even tempted to take any of the candy again. My experience with my mother gave me a change of heart, changed my perspective, and helped me realize how thankful I was to live under my parent’s protection and provision. So, dear reader, let's learn from our past mistakes and appreciate living under the provisions and protection of our heavenly Father. Take inventory of all the good things God has blessed you with today and be thankful for the sweetness found in His Kingdom.