There is a vast difference between the ways of God and the ways of this world. A part of us wants to follow this world's ways, and a part of us wants to follow God's ways. We may be experiencing the tension between these two within ourselves. However, the ways of this world can only lead us to despair because the ultimate destination of this world is about ourselves. But, the ways of God lead to life because the ultimate destination of God's way is the meaning of life and the source of eternal life, God Himself. These two roads cannot go together because they point in two different directions. Many people try to combine these two roads and walk on them at the same time, but they find themselves frustrated because they can never be satisfied. If they walk in the ways of this world, they feel guilty, ashamed, and want to be right before God, but they do not want to change and completely surrender their life to God, so they stay miserable.
James 4:1-4 says, "What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God."
God is encouraging us this morning that we need to choose to walk in His ways today. Let us not be deceived that the ways of this world are better. Let us choose wisely and use God's wisdom in dealing with our current situations. Let us trust God's ways, and He will work everything out. God knows what is best for us because He is the answer to life. God doesn't want us to walk in the world's ways because it will only lead us to death and destruction. God loves us so much that He wants us to live an abundant life in Him.
Ask yourself these questions: Do I feel the tension between God's ways and the world's ways within me? Which way do I choose that will lead me to life? How do I walk in God's ways?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, you are the meaning of life and the source of eternal life. You are the only one that can satisfy the longing of my heart. Please help me not be deceived that this world's ways are better. Please help me choose to walk in your ways and completely trust you in whatever I am facing today. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.