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For many years we have all have traveled our own personal faith trail; a spiritual expedition seeking God’s wisdom and searching for meaning in our lives. I remember attending Bill Workman’s young adult Sunday school class at Buncombe Street Methodist Church in 1985 where I first heard a reference to the faith trail as a spiritual journey of recognition and acceptance of our Lord Jesus.1 Workman cast a vision of a spiritual trek beginning on a trailhead in the valleys of the world and slowly ascending to an awakening of a life in Christ discovered in the heights of God’s teachings. The experiences along the trail shape and strengthen our faith and support our confirmation as disciples of Jesus.

Consider the faith trail of Moses which involved the footpaths and passages of Mount Horeb2. Moses was camped in the foothills of the mount tending the sheep of his father-in-law Jethro and saw a burning bush. It was on Mount Horeb where God first spoke to Moses and called him to deliver Israel out of slavery representing the initiation of his faithful journey. After the escape from Egypt, it was also the location where Moses struck the rock to deliver water to the Israelites wandering in the desert signifying his faith and trust in God. But Mount Horeb is likely best known as the site of the delivery of the Ten Commandments representing Moses’ acceptance of God’s wisdom and His directive for faithful living for His children. Like Moses our faith journey begins with the recognition of God’s call transcending into the pursuit of faithful living and servant discipleship in the ministry of Jesus.

Paul defines the progression of work by the Holy Spirit in our spiritual journey in many of his letters. In the introduction of the letter to the Philippians he writes, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”3 In Romans he clarifies the journey as a transformation, “2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”4 This transformation brings about a strength of faith in God that separates us from the world and calls us as disciples. Hebrews reads, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.”

I’m reminded of the return of Jesus and the importance of serving the Lord.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one  from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick
and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’
Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25: 31-40.

Perhaps our willingness to witness, minister, and serve Jesus is an important spiritual transition that occurs somewhere on the faith trail moving from a world of me to a recognition of God’s love resulting in ministry and compassionate service. Some of us are born loving God as a child and respond at an early age to the little tugs and directive while many of us grow in faith and service over the years.

I admit that I live with the best of intentions to reach out to people in need of the love of Christ. These are God’s children in our community, neighbors down the street, and our brothers and sisters in Christ who need His grace, peace, and comfort. …Yet I struggle often influenced by the responsibilities and pace of my world. I race through life not taking adequate time to recognize and respond to the quiet whisper of Christ. Who did we pass by today that needed Jesus?

Prayer: Father, grant to us the strength to seek Your wisdom and transform our lives into disciples for Jesus. Help us to recognize and respond to the needs of those in our community. Guide us on the faith trail to a commitment of witness, ministry, and service in the name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.

 

1 The Faith Trail, term coined by Bill Workman, Young Adult Sunday School Teacher, Buncombe Street Methodist, 1985.
2 Note: Also known as Mount Sinai.
3 Philippians 1:6.
4 Romans 12:2.
5 Hebrews 11:1-2.

The Wesleyan Bridge is written by K.B. Kelly with the Reverend Valerie Mireb and Pastor Hank Brooks as Theological Editors with Debbie Kelly as Text and Content Editor.