Holy Spirit knows how to teach us in ways that truly resonate in our hearts. With me, it is experiential and visual. I see God in all of His creations, and almost everything that happens to me immediately leads me to what He has said in His word. He recently taught me about slippery steps.
It was a rainy morning, and it was also trash day. I was hurrying along that morning, trying to get all the things done before I left the house, and I needed to put the trash can out by the road. When the rain let up, I thought, “I’ll run out there and get that done before it starts again”. I slipped on my yard shoes and headed to the can. Now, I’ve lived in this house for 45 years, and I know that the 2nd step is slippery when it’s wet. I’ve fallen down those steps more than once, but I forgot. In my rushing, it never crossed my mind to walk down them carefully. My feet flew out from under me so fast I didn’t have a chance of catching myself. My back slammed into one of the steps so hard I couldn’t even catch my breath. I sat there in pain, wondering if anything was broken or if I was even going to be able to get up. But soon I was able to assess the damage and determine there was nothing broken, and as bad as it hurt, I could indeed get up. I made my way back inside and sat down. All that hurrying was done, and I had to reassess my plans for the day.
As I sat in pain, Holy Spirit whispered, ‘That’s how sin works. Keep your eyes on Me.’ His words took me straight to Ephesians 5:
“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:11-16 ESV
He reminded me that we do not have time to rush through life in a fog or asleep. We must be alert. The days are indeed evil and if our eyes are not on Him we are in danger of slipping into sin. Peter reminds us of this “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT
Are you rushing through your days or walking in a fog? It’s so easy to do. But we need to wake up. Take time today to slow down. Before rushing into the next thing, pause and ask: ‘Am I walking carefully with Jesus, or am I running carelessly toward a fall? The enemy wasn’t able to take me out of the race that day, but he was able to put me on the sidelines for a while. I don’t want to be a spectator. I don’t believe that you do either.
Let’s be awake. Life’s steps can be slippery, but we don’t have to fall. Fix your eyes on Jesus, walk carefully, and you will stand firm.
(1 Peter 5:8-9) Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.
