Tangles

Have you ever tried to un-tangle a rope? If you flop it around it just seems to tangle more. If you pull it, it tightens into a knot. The only way to untangle a rope is to look for the right way to pull it through and to take your time in getting it through each loop. Work it out!

You cannot use tangled rope, won’t hold or secure the load. If you are trying to pull something, the tangled rope can be so loose that it don’t pull tight (until you have pulled it into a huge knot ).

OR a shoe lace with a knot in it: Perhaps you tried to use it without removing the knot?  The knot won't let the shoe lace pass through the hole. It is tedious and difficult to get that knot out but it must be removed before it will work properly… you need to lace your shoes to tie them and hold them on your feet. The knot won’t let it work.

That is how we tend to try to live righteous… we want to fudge, not have to do the hard thing.  Don’t take the time to get it right - we want God to “understand” and just over look the fact that we have a problem. It is too hard to get it right. So we leave the knot in and attempt to use it anyway making it harder on ourselves; then it takes longer and is more difficult to accomplish the thing we set out to do. Often, it cannot be accomplished to satisfaction when we don't follow directions.

John 10:1 ¶ Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Park by a puddle of water, try to step over, or wade through instead of moving the vehicle - you try to get out anyway. More often than not, you will have wet feet at the very least making you uncomfortable and miserable when all you had to do was move the car. Our attempts or willingness to “get by” or try to get away with something makes us miserable when we don’t have to be miserable. Just give it all to Jesus. Stop trying to get around or over or under  - follow God’s plan for your life and GO THROUGH! The children of Israel traveled 40 years trying to get to the promised land and in the end only their offspring got in. Why? They wanted their way, complaining, disobedient they even talked of returning to their previous BONDAGE instead of pressing on. It was hard. They didn’t want to try anymore. Yet, it was their own fault that they were still out there instead of enjoying the milk and honey! 

Only one way: the right way. Even Jesus had to do a certain thing, a certain plan, a certain way…it was the only way for you and I to be redeemed. The only way for the plan of salvation to WORK was for Jesus to follow THE plan.  His flesh did not want to follow the plan. His mind screamed for a change of plan! Yet, He CHOSE to do the will of the Father EVEN THOUGH IT WAS HARD.

Matthew 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Except God allow this plan of salvation to be fulfilled, the soldiers could never have touched Jesus. For He is God’s very own Son! Made flesh to be the sacrificial lamb for our transgressions!

John 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

 John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

God gave you a plan for salvation. His great love for you makes Him desire your love in return. He will not go against your will and force you to love Him. His plan requires you to CHOOSE.

Step in the muddy water and ruin your shoes or move the car to the right place for a smooth exit? Will you choose to repent and turn from the mud puddle of this life or will you walk away from the greatest love you could ever imagine?

What do you choose?

2Peter 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

 2Peter 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Hosea 14:9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

 1Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I choose Jesus! I choose to take the time to learn and follow God's plan for my life!