For some reason, we all have different agendas why we get on this “Road Trip” with Christ. Some, and most obviously, start this trip because they want to avoid Hell. Some get on board to please their parents or their friends; it is what is expected of them. Others jump in because they sincerely want more of God, they want to Follow Him (Matthew 4:19) where ever He leads.
But then there are those who go because they want access to a “Vending Machine God”. They like the idea that when they want something or have the craving for something, they can go, make their selection and “poof” there it is. The problem with that is when it doesn’t happen or they don’t get everything they want, they begin to question God and doubt creeps into their mind.
God says for us to just trust Him and follow Him, that’s all… God wants us to give Him control of our lives. So, here is what we do, we jump in the back seat and allow Jesus to take over (I know what you are thinking… this is not a line from a Carrie Underwood song). We begin to say things like, “Where ever You lead, I will follow” and “I’ll go where ever You take me”. Then for some reason, we begin to do something else. We become “Back Seat Drivers”. We begin to ask and say things like, “Why hasn’t God blessed me yet?”, “What is taking so long?”, “Just pull over and let me do it!” or even “Are we there yet?”. Does this sound familiar? For some reason, we try to blind fold Christ and tell Him which way to go and what He is doing wrong. Maybe we try to tell Him how we would have done it, if we had the chance.
But, we are not alone… The twelve who were with Christ the most, they were also “Back Seat Drivers”. Look at Matthew chapter 26. We all know the story of how the lady anointed Jesus with the very expensive oil. But look at how the disciples acted… verse 8, “When the disciples saw this, they were indignant.”Why this waste?" they asked.”
Let’s look at the disciple for a moment. Maybe they were ready for some “Big Movement” where Jesus was going to become the “King” He said He would. They were probably ready for Him to rule over all. Or maybe they thought Jesus had no structure, He obviously didn’t care about money and He was always offending the Jewish leaders. I can here them asking, “What is He doing?” They began to get upset with the situation and, yeah you guessed it, they became “Back Seat Drivers”. They just thought they would tell Jesus what He should have done… verse 9, "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
But look at what Jesus did. If you are a parent like me, you have been here before. Jesus said to them… in verses 10 through 13, “"Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." Basically, you know when you are on a long trip and your kids constantly ask the question, “Are we there yet?”, well, Jesus gave them the same kind of answer we would give to our own kids. Now this is the PS translation of course but I believe Jesus turned around to them and said, “Just sit back and be quiet!” That is awesome! The disciples, for a moment, were blinded about what and how Jesus should be and what His mission was, and He let them know about it.
Are we so different? How many times do we, as Christians, try to tell Jesus what to do? How often in our own live do we try to be a “Back Seat Driver” to Christ and just give Him a little nudge in the direction we think He should go?
All Jesus said was to “Follow Him”. If we follow Him, He will take responsibility for the outcome. He is not going to steer us wrong. Always remember, He knows the way! We must try our best not to be “Back Seat Drivers” and allow God to lead us on the path He has for us.
So, give God control of the wheel and just sit back and enjoy the ride…
But then there are those who go because they want access to a “Vending Machine God”. They like the idea that when they want something or have the craving for something, they can go, make their selection and “poof” there it is. The problem with that is when it doesn’t happen or they don’t get everything they want, they begin to question God and doubt creeps into their mind.
God says for us to just trust Him and follow Him, that’s all… God wants us to give Him control of our lives. So, here is what we do, we jump in the back seat and allow Jesus to take over (I know what you are thinking… this is not a line from a Carrie Underwood song). We begin to say things like, “Where ever You lead, I will follow” and “I’ll go where ever You take me”. Then for some reason, we begin to do something else. We become “Back Seat Drivers”. We begin to ask and say things like, “Why hasn’t God blessed me yet?”, “What is taking so long?”, “Just pull over and let me do it!” or even “Are we there yet?”. Does this sound familiar? For some reason, we try to blind fold Christ and tell Him which way to go and what He is doing wrong. Maybe we try to tell Him how we would have done it, if we had the chance.
But, we are not alone… The twelve who were with Christ the most, they were also “Back Seat Drivers”. Look at Matthew chapter 26. We all know the story of how the lady anointed Jesus with the very expensive oil. But look at how the disciples acted… verse 8, “When the disciples saw this, they were indignant.”Why this waste?" they asked.”
Let’s look at the disciple for a moment. Maybe they were ready for some “Big Movement” where Jesus was going to become the “King” He said He would. They were probably ready for Him to rule over all. Or maybe they thought Jesus had no structure, He obviously didn’t care about money and He was always offending the Jewish leaders. I can here them asking, “What is He doing?” They began to get upset with the situation and, yeah you guessed it, they became “Back Seat Drivers”. They just thought they would tell Jesus what He should have done… verse 9, "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
But look at what Jesus did. If you are a parent like me, you have been here before. Jesus said to them… in verses 10 through 13, “"Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." Basically, you know when you are on a long trip and your kids constantly ask the question, “Are we there yet?”, well, Jesus gave them the same kind of answer we would give to our own kids. Now this is the PS translation of course but I believe Jesus turned around to them and said, “Just sit back and be quiet!” That is awesome! The disciples, for a moment, were blinded about what and how Jesus should be and what His mission was, and He let them know about it.
Are we so different? How many times do we, as Christians, try to tell Jesus what to do? How often in our own live do we try to be a “Back Seat Driver” to Christ and just give Him a little nudge in the direction we think He should go?
All Jesus said was to “Follow Him”. If we follow Him, He will take responsibility for the outcome. He is not going to steer us wrong. Always remember, He knows the way! We must try our best not to be “Back Seat Drivers” and allow God to lead us on the path He has for us.
So, give God control of the wheel and just sit back and enjoy the ride…
No comments:
Post a Comment