Your Daily Devotional for April 13, 2006

April 13, 2006

 

The Old Paths

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”

 

Jeremiah 6:16

 

In this Old Testament passage, Jeremiah has a message from the Lord to stay in the old paths. Israel was tempted to follow the gods and ideals of other countries because they were new and fresh. God saw what they were doing as abomination, and although many false prophets were deceiving them saying, “peace, peace, when there is no peace,” God was pleading with them to go to the old paths, where they could find true peace.

 

People are always looking for new, easier ways to do things. Automatic toothbrushes, fast-food restaurants, and internet grocery shopping are just a few of the ways Americans make their world a more convenient, time-efficient place. The question consumers are asking today is “How fast can I get it done?” not necessarily “What is the right way to do it?”

 

Unfortunately, much of this microwave culture has seeped its way into Christianity. We are no longer asking, “What is the right way to have revival?”  We are asking, “How many days will it take to have revival, and will it fit into my work schedule?” Unfortunately, that’s not how God works. We have to come to Him on His terms—the terms that were created before the world began, or as one old prophet said, the old paths.

 

Although some things might be done faster because of technology and innovation, let’s not forget that our God and His commands never change.  You can’t take a pill for increased spirituality, or stick an apathetic Christian life into a microwave to heat it up. If we want to do God’s will His way, we have to pray longer, study harder, and live every day with more faith.

 

So what about you? As a Christian, in what areas is God telling you to slow down? The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 1:9, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” Let’s decide that despite the culture, and the influence of others, we will stick to the old paths in every aspect of our Christian life.

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