Road trips usually include a few detours. Whether by poor navigation, the inevitable road construction, or the unexpected bathroom stops in the middle of nowhere. I (Caleb) once knew a girl who turned a four-hour trip into seven because she mixed up the names of a couple roads. That girl became my wife, so as a rule, I’m the one who does the navigating in the family.
Some detours take you the long way around. Some detours are bumpy and full of slowdowns. Still others take you places you did not want to go and make you see things you really did not want to see.
In our spiritual journey, detours can be costly. They distract us from the work God has for us, keeping us from the fulfillment that comes from doing God’s work. If we veer off course into sin or disobedience long enough, our destination can ultimately be altered, taking us away from God completely. Detours on the spiritual journey can be perilous. That is why it is so important to stay in the Word (our map), to keep godly counsel (our navigator).
The narrow path that leads to heaven will be strewn with temptation. We will be tempted to turn around. We will be tempted to take shortcuts. We will be tempted to take the easy road, the road of pleasure. God graciously helps us navigate our detours, as he did in this week’s stories. Paul encourages us to stay on course and to seek God’s help through the detours
—Pastor Caleb
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