For the past few weeks, we have been on a journey seeking the “Good Way”. The first landmark on our map was the 10 Commandments. God’s law given to Moses by God and then by Moses to the chosen people of God. The next landmark on our map was knowledge of the word following the word and living the word as God has given it to us to understand, with discernment and the aid of the Holy Spirit. The third landmark on our map is unity unity of the body of believers among themselves and in the faith. This week there is an abundance of scripture references for us to look to for guidance and we’ll get to those in just a few words.

Let’s take time to examine this wonderment the thing. As usual, the Pew will run to our nearest dictionary and look at the word wonder which means to feel surprise, admiration, or all, good to be curious about something. It’s interesting to know that it can refer to a person or saying that causes such a feeling but also it allows us to Marvel at a miracle. As a verb, it means to think about something with curiosity, including even to maybe doubt it  As a noun, it refers to the feeling itself, maybe an event that contains a natural wonder or remarkable object. Wonder the word appears in the Bible 148 times in total, if we break that down the word wonder is used 55 times. When it’s written as wondered, it’s used 15 times and wonderful is used 21 times. So the point here is that the word wonder or wonderment is not new to biblical thought and writings. In biblical terms it can constitute amazement, astonishment, and even can cause people to marvel at certain events of which they have no plausible explanation. So I ask the question is there an end to the good way? 

This is my personal thought about that question. A big NO. Now those scriptures that I was writing about a paragraph or so ago will lead us to the good way.There is no end to the good way. If there is an end to the good way, it takes place in the mist of the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and there is no end to our savior’s glory. Another way of expressing the good way is to simply say living a good life and Micah 6:8 speaks very plainly to that.

“He has shown you, oh mortal, what is good and what does the Lord require of you to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” 

So this verse outlines three key actions that constitutes the good way… justice, mercy and humility. There are many other scriptures that we can turn to… Proverbs 3:5–6 advises us to trust in the Lord and our signature verse that started all of this Jeremiah 6:16, which encourages seeking the ancient path, asking where the good way is, stop, pray and then continue on, and then we turned to Galatians 5:22–23, which describes fruit of the spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. To kind of dive into these versus just a little closer proverbs 3:5–6 encourages us to choose a path of trust and reliance on God’s guidance and in Jeremiah 6:16 this is a verse that speaks directly to us as we seek out and follow the good, ancient way, always seeking out  the fruit of the spirit. Looking at Galatians 5:22–23, these are the character traits that define the good way we also would add to these versus Ephesians 2:10, it speaks of God’s handiwork and this verse connects living a good way with fulfilling God’s purpose for each of us. Then Romans 12:2 encourages us to not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but by renewing our mind, we can be transformed, the passage encourages a transformation in our thinking to a better understanding and to follow God’s goodwill. The pew would also encourage each of you to have a spiritual balance in your life. The Bible is really about, maintaining a healthy relationship with God and integrating your faith into all the areas of life guided by the principles like loving God and your neighbor, seeking wisdom and seeking God’s way. We need to find a balance in our spiritual practices when possible, we need to give prayer equal time in our study of the Bible and we have to balance between spiritual life and material responsibilities. We need to look to truth and love and an attitude that prioritizes God is first.

Our journey is not yet over, but the day will come when this life we’re living now will be over and we will move on the good way and be in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I encourage you to make God first in your life and remember that the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself this more than anything forms the foundation for a balanced life. Thank you for going on this journey with us here in the pew we hope to see you again next week. Keep the faith and stay on a good way. Amen.

Life is Good

jk