“Following the Leader.”

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2

I loved this entry in the Mount Angel Fourth of July parade.  An old Avery tractor, refurbished and running in top form, pulls a wagon load of riders, driving back and forth across Taylor Street.  Everyone is wearing matching shirts and everyone is having the time of their life.  Everyone is full of joy.

The “hay ride” took me back to many joyful events as a boy.  Always the same simple scenario; a tractor pulls a whole wagon load of happy passengers, a whole trailer load of “joy riders.”  We don’t have to worry about where we are going, we don’t have to provide the power, we trust the driver up ahead on the trusty tractor, and at the end of the ride will come a wonderful party.

What a parallel for our lives as followers of Jesus!  The driver up ahead does all the real work. You and I trust Him and follow after Him.  Jesus has suffered the cross, death, and hell to open up for us a wonderful life following after Him, trusting in Him, and looking forward to a fantastic forever party in heaven with Him.  What a wonderful ride life can be, trusting in a Savior, depending on our Lord, and trusting in His grace, wisdom, and love.  Sure, there can be a few bumps along the road,  and sometimes it can be tough to get along with fellow riders, but there is no doubt that you and I can trust in the Lord, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for going before us.  Give us faith to trust in Your leading, Your Word, and Your love, until our ride is through… Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado