Bec's Blog

September 2025 Blog

By Pastor Bec

 

The path already marked out for us is lying before us. (Hebrews 12:1)

To have something set before is to be exhibited. If you think of a favorite painting or sculpture in a museum, it is usually part of an exhibit. That particular piece of art which you find so fascinating is set before us to enjoy. Our life is an exhibit to others -an exhibit of how a follower of Christ lives.

 We know from God’s Word that He enjoys us. Yes, even in all our failings, He delights in us. We are, after all, His creation. His workmanship. Just as you delight in that great meal you made, or that rescue animal you adopted, or those children God created through you, so our Heavenly Father delights in us. Ephesians 2:10 tells us

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

 The race is marked out for us, and good works have been prepared ahead of time for us as well! A good prayer to begin each day with, (after praising Him for who He is, and whose we are, and thanking Him for the gift of another day of life!) could be, “Lord, help me to move forward on the path you’ve already marked out for me for today.

Thank You for some good works I can do today, too. Guide me, I pray.”

How we live our lives can be an invitation to others to join in the fellowship of believers and become a Kingdom dweller too. We are not perfect, however, and it’s important we seek God’s help in all we do. We must have His Holy Spirit to accomplish His will for our lives. Judges 3:7-11 tells of Israel’s first “judge,” (actually a military commander). His name was Othniel, which means “God’s strength.” (There’s a good name for a baby boy if anyone’s looking for it!) We’re told (vs. 10) “the Spirit of the Lord came upon him…” (Don’t tell me there’s no Holy Spirit in the Old Testament!) Because of Othniel’s dependency on God for his leadership, “the land had rest for forty years.” (vs. 11)

 

Let’s carve out time to get to know God and His Son Jesus and His Holy Spirit daily through worship and prayer and devotionals and Bible study and journaling. Let’s not be like one of “the seven sons of Sceva, who was trying to do ministry in the name of Jesus whom they did not personally know. “One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?”

This passage has always struck me as humorous. How like God. Making his point even through the opposite side. The point is, however, that we have a path marked out for us as followers of Christ. We have good works already prepared for us to do as the perfectly designed creation of a loving Father. We are called to be fully present – not thinking about the past, or the future, but being fully plugged into the present.

We are to be like an athlete – moving forward with full effort and directed purpose!