A Life Expedient and Profitable

I don’t want to miss God’s plan just because I am rushing towards my will. I once wrote a post about Peter Farrant – do you remember? – and he told me, “John, slow down and smell the roses!” We can become so preoccupied with our plans that we miss His purpose. I can usually tell when I’m driving the stagecoach of my will. Physically I have signals and signs. It’s when I have shortness of breath, tightness in my chest, and sometimes even a slight burning in my throat. Lord Jesus, help, a life can be expedient and profitable.

Life: Expedient, Effective, Profitable

Quite frankly, the reason there would be any negative physical effect on my body is because running by the horsepower of my will is sin. But at the end of the day, I’d rather experience the excitement of Christ’s Life than to be anxious in my own willfulness.

This life is based in the movement of His sovereign hand. If I trust Him, then I know everything is in His sovereign Will. The benefit of this lifestyle is that you experience the rest and peace of Christ. Additionally, there is the joy of experiencing Him in life. It is impossible to run on my own steam and in my will and still experience His Wonder.

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient.
1 Corinthians 6:12

The Expedient Route

Say I have a trip planned to New York. In planning my trip, I have many options. For one, the route I plan to take. Two, the means of transportation; I can walk, ride a bike, take a train, go via greyhound, or I could fly. In this case most would say that the most expedient route would be flying. In other words, the most profitable route (Strong’s G4851), but is it? Logically this route would be most expedient. But my life and doings are not to be based in logic. The Lord orders my steps, not me. Expedience for the child of God is His Will –not convenience, practicality, or logic. And with that said, my most profitable route might just be by bicycle.

Look at the maps of Christ’s journey. There is no logical explanation for the routes He chose. But in the Will of the Father, it was not only profitable, but expedient and perfect as well. Again, expedience and profitability is found in the Will of God, not logic.

Expedient Life Test

How was this revelation tested in my life? After all, I don’t get the opportunity of writing a post without its serrated edge cutting my life. So here is how this particular blade cut me. First, every single stoplight on my 2 1/2-hour commute to Atlanta turned red on me. Also, every hesitant driver in my vicinity chose to move in front of me and ride their brakes. Yep, if an obstacle could jump in my way, it did.

Then when I finally got to my painting class, one of the students asked how my drive in was. I told her of my frustrations, and guess what she said: “I wonder what you were saved from?” In case I had missed the point, the Lord made sure I knew of His sovereignty over my steps. Remember, I was dictating this very post while on my journey to class. God is always faithful to make sure we get His message. Thank you, Jesus!

My lesson here is He orders my steps and my anxiousness is only willfulness. I am to be looking for Him, enjoying Him, and trusting Him as I walk in this world. If I would open my eyes and heart, perhaps my divine interruptions just might be an answer to my prayers—or the hidden blessing of experiencing His Life.