United Church of God

Letter From Dan Preston - December 9, 2022

Letter From Dan Preston

December 9, 2022

Good evening brethren and happy Sabbath!  Just a reminder to those in Charlotte we will be having 2:30 PM services tomorrow followed by a potluck and game show night.  Columbia and Hickory will have 10:30 AM services.

Where ya going?

Have you ever been lost and stopped to ask for directions?  If you're over age 25 and remember life before the GPS, you probably have.  Some directions you might have received were helpful, others not so much, like these from the Cheshire Cat.

Of course, it helps if you know exactly where it is you want to go.  If you don't really care where you're going, then it doesn't really matter which way you go!

Enjoy the trip

While the destination is important, so is the trip itself.  Sometimes, we get so focused on an end goal, we miss the things going on around us.  And while we are to seek first the Kingdom, remember the context of that scripture, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).  

Christ was saying that the needs of our daily lives - food, shelter, etc. -  would be added to us, or taken care of if our priorities were right.  That's not to say the rest of those physical things can't or shouldn't be enjoyed.  We just shouldn't overly worry about them, or let them take priority over our main goal - seeking the Kingdom.  

The bottom line is, we know what our destination is, so, how DO we get there?

Lots of maps, one direction

The only way to obtain our goal is through the redemptive blood of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).  But like any road trip, the journey can be as enjoyable and meaningful as the destination.  On that journey, there will probably be a few questions along the way: How do we worship God? Who should I marry? What should I do if I break something that isn't mine?

God provides directions (or maps) to help navigate these questions primarily via His word in the Bible and by guidance from the Holy Spirit.  Of course those two things are building blocks for other ways He gives directions such as sermons, articles and even casual conversation.  All of these provide a type of map to get us where we need to go.

The next time you are wondering on how to get where you are going, and you receive confusing directions from a stranger or your GPS, be grateful for life's journey.  Take direction from all the maps God gives us, and remember to enjoy the trip along the way!