Your Move

There’s a game I just loved to play called, “The Game of Life.” It’s a board game with little cars that you put stick people in and you go around the board of life. You may pick up a kid or two, a house and more, but the game is supposed to be fun as you go through the ups and downs of life. My favorite part was yelling, “Your move!” because I wanted to play the game fast and win.

The game takes you through life’s great days and struggling moments. You discover that some things you can control and many things you can’t. There are joyous times and sad times. Through it all you find love, fortune, good relationships and peace. You find that life doesn’t always move at your pace and you should expect the unexpected, just like real life.

Although you learn perseverance and how to make decisions, an important part of real life is left out: Jesus. We know that life isn’t about the luck of the draw on someone’s game board. We have someone who walks through life with us and brings us hope. As we go on our journey, He helps us navigate the mountains and the roadblocks we encounter. We are not alone.  

The disciples took a journey with Jesus. In fact, they didn’t know where they were going or how long the journey would last. What they did have was faith and trust in Jesus. As they watched His every move, they learned how to reach the lost, heal the sick and cast out demons. They encountered trials they never dreamed of because they didn’t understand what Jesus meant when He said He was going away.

After His death on the cross, they were lost and confused. Some may even have felt guilty for not sticking by Him. But what an amazingly happy day when they discovered Jesus had risen from the grave and returned. He spent time with them explaining what they didn’t comprehend. Then He did something they didn’t expect. He said, “Your move!” for He was returning to the Father and leaving them to fulfill the purpose He had prepared them for.

Jesus left them with the Gospel, two simple commandments to love the Lord above everything, and to love others, and He gave them work to do. They were to wait for the Holy Spirit to come teach and guide them in what they were to do. He left us those very same instructions too and hope for eternal life with Him. He did not leave us alone nor did He leave us with no hope and no way to maneuver life. Because He gave His life for us, we are reconciled with the Lord and we can share His message of grace, mercy and love with others.

It’s our move, friends. Jesus has given us everything we need for our journey through life. No matter the pandemic, the world’s unrest or our troubles, He has us and He has work for us to do. He wants us to put our trust and faith in Him. He moves when we move. If you want to see change in your life, if you want freedom from strongholds and addictions, if you want to feel true love and understanding, move! Then watch Him move in your life.

“From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us. ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’” Acts 17:26-28

“But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation--if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.” Colossians 1:22-23

Prayer

Lord,

Make me know Your ways; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day. Teach me, and I will be silent; and show me how I have erred. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. For You are my rock and my fortress; for Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me. Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; for I trust in You; teach me the way in which I should walk; for to You I lift up my soul. O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling places. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it. I will trust in You with all my heart and I will not lean on my own understanding. In all my ways I will acknowledge You, and You will make my path straight. You lead the humble in justice, and You teach the humble Your way. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Here I am before You Lord, send me. Amen!


Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash

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