Walk With Me

As he watched Jesus walk by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"

(John 1:36)

When combat engineers clear out an enemy minefield, they mark the path that soldiers must walk as they cross the field. Failure to heed the warning signs will produce the most dire circumstances!
Soldiers are train on how to extract themselves from a mine field if they accidentally find themselves in one. They follow their footprints.
And so, this brings us to today's thought as we sit on my front porch. Whose footprints are you following.
When John the immerser saw a man walking by, he knew immediately that it was Jesus. "Look the Lamb of God!"
The question of the day is this. When people see you walk by, will they know you are a follower of the Lamb of God?
Will they know you because "Therefore by their fruits you shall know them."?(Matthew 7:20)
I carried a poem someone gave me for years in my wallet, this is the poem

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along the beach
with the Lord.

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.

For each scene,
he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand.
One belonged to him, and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.

He noticed
that many times along the path of his life,
there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened
at the very lowest
and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him
and he questioned the Lord about it.:

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during
the most troublesome times in my life,
there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when I needed you the most
you would leave me."

The Lord replied,
"My precious, precious child,
I love you and would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then I carried you."

~Author Unknown~

And so I ask again, when you turn around, whose footprints are you following?

EASTER AND HOLIDAYS

This weekend is Easter weekend. Many churches around the world are having Good Friday services, observing Lent, and Easter on Sunday. To many it is a time of reflection on the death and resurrection of Jesus, to others it is just another day in the week.
I often "wise crack" that we have twice a year, the "two day Christians". Once on Christmas and again on Easter. For many this is the only time of the year they will worship God and our Savior. Two out of 50 services. I also assume that this is the only time of the year they pray and sing to God.
What has created this mentality? That Easter Sunday is more special than any other Sunday?
The Hebrew writer writes, "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."
(Hebrews 10:25)
You can look all you want in the Bible and you will not find an "Easter service" commanded. Nor will you find Lent, and all the other religious festivals that people do. In fact you will read this verse:
"Therefore, let no one judge you in matters of food and drink or with respect to a festival, a new moon, or a Sabbath day. "(Colossians 2:16)
Now before you "poo-poo" this, read on to verse 23 of the same chapter:
"All of these things will be destroyed through use because they are based on human commands and teachings. These things have the appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion, humility, and harsh treatment of the body, but they have no value against self-indulgence."
(Colossians 2:22-23)
All of these holidays are human designed and installed. God just tells us to assemble, worship Him, encourage each other to good works, build each other up and rejoice that we are saved.
Back to the original question; why do people ignore God 50 weeks and only visit 2 days out of a year? Because many, many religious bodies have labored to emphasize ritual over spiritual, process over life, style over substance and trappings instead of true service.
While people look for a relationship with God; feel goodness is hyped and people turn away.
So, while Easter is a great time to reflect extra on God's plan for our redemption, I visit that topic at least once a week.
Do you?
Until next time on my front porch.