Jesus - The Straight Path!

While on earth Jesus declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). As such, if humanity is to find the ultimate source for spiritual guidance, if we are to find the straight path for living in a way that pleases God, we must seek the truth that is in Jesus (Ephesians 4:20-21). In God’s will, Jesus has revealed the straight path that God desires humanity to walk.

But we are full of sin. We cannot, in our own strength, fulfill all the good deeds necessary to stay on God’s straight path. Our moral weakness and spiritual incapacity are significant, ongoing dilemmas.

But what if God himself could realistically help? According to the Scriptures, it is God who works within our spirit to show us what is good, and to will and to do what pleases him (Philippians 2:13). On our own, we could never accomplish the good works that bring delight and satisfaction to God. We must instead depend on the grace of God, from whom all our spiritual sufficiency can be realized.

Only the beautiful grace of God at continual work in our lives makes it possible for us to stay on the straight path. In fact, God has gifted us his Holy Spirit – he has placed his Spirit within us – to guide and empower us along the journey. Through God’s Spirit, we find direction as we look to the Scriptures.

So as we look to the Scriptures, as we follow the way of Jesus – the straight path – and as we depend on the grace of God and the power of his Spirit to do what is good, not only do we bring delight to God but we also experience delight ourselves. As the Psalmist says, “Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight” (Psalm 119:35).

The straight path, then, is not something to be associated with cumbersome burdens – or with fear and anxiety. It is the unique path of joy and peace. And this path leads us into spiritual victory and hope-filled assurance, for today and for eternity, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Where the heart finds true joy, there the feet are sure to follow. As we follow Jesus along the straight path he has revealed, the incredible love of God gives life to our faith, encourages our hope and motivates us to reflect his love in this broken world.