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Utilize the Guardrails
When I was a child my father managed a Christian radio station. With the job came outside community responsibilities, like sponsoring the Christian bowling league. Weekly, I found myself checking out a pair of red and green bowling shoes and tracking down the right ball. I bowled so often, I learned how to aim my ball using the arrows on the lanes and the proper bowling form. Oh, I threw down lots of balls that ended up in the gutters, but in time, with enough practice, I learned to stay away from the edges and how to best use my opportunities. My scores so improved over time I earned a trophy.
Today, you don’t have to spend all those hours learning the craft of bowling to stay out of the gutter. The facilities have installed bumpers that will bounce your ball right back on track, moving it onward to knock down the point-scoring pins. You can just toss that ball and score. It’s easy and more enjoyable than losing all hope with thirty rounds of gutter balls on the scoreboard.
Beyond my disgust with how easy my children believe bowling to be, I fear we take this affinity for ease into our pursuit of Christ-likeness. Paul recognized the same tendencies in the believers at Ephesus as he challenged them to be careful how they lived.
He’s talking about paying attention to the guardrails of our lives. This is old school. There are no bumpers to ricochet us back on track; keeping us on the Straight and Narrow. We have ample opportunities for choosing the way of fools, darkness, and missed opportunities. Instead, Paul encourages his readers “to be careful.” “Learn what pleases the Lord.” And, “Understand what the Lord’s will is”. This sounds a lot like bowling practices. Flinging any ball under my legs and hoping for the best will never work.
Instead, we should take our cues from Paul. “Be very careful, then how you live. Make the most of every opportunity.” The Lord has much in store for you, my friend. Be wise as you go. Take the time to learn what He wants of you. Consider what direction He’s leading you. God’s desire is that you finish well. What are you waiting for?
“Wake up, o sleeper, rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.”
May the end, indeed be even better than its beginning.
We hope this plan was an encouragement. For more Gospel-centered resources from Cheri to help stir a desire for God into your everyday life, visit https://www.sheyearns.com/what-is-next/
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Anyone can start something, but to carry it out to completion? For your whole life? That’s a whole different matter. But, what if you could? What if the Bible offered insights and encouragement for moving you on toward finishing well? Take a look with Cheri Strange in this 5-Day reading plan.
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