Finding the Road to Freedom
Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:12-13
When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Okay. Everyone close your eyes-except the person reading, of course.
Picture yourself walking down a road on the way to the beach. The scenery is stunning and the weather is great. As you round a bend, you see a fork in the road. The road to the right is narrow and heads straight uphill. The road to the left is wide and runs downhill. Your map clearly shows that the road to the right is the one that will get you to the beach, but from where you stand the only thing you see up that way is a hard climb. That road on the left looks like you could take a flying leap and slide on your backside all the way to the bottom.
Open your eyes and talk about this: Which road do you pick? How come?
Now listen to how that applies to following Jesus.
As we walk through life, we stand at many forks in the road. Each fork is a choice. When it comes to being a disciple of Jesus, our correct choice is always the path that keeps us doing good and living close to Jesus.
That means we need to recognize when we stand at a point of decision-at a fork. Think about what forks in the road can look like in your own life:
Places. Most of us go to certain places where we get into trouble. Maybe it’s the friend’s house where we always tease a little sister until she cries. Or the playground where fights happen. Or the store where we’re tempted to steal a candy bar. Those are forks in the road. If we know we’re in for a bad situation, why go there?
People. God wants us to reach out to everyone. But there are people we might not be able to handle—who parents call “bad influences.” Sometimes a friendship is a fork in the road, a choice between God’s way and a bad way. If you always get in trouble when you’re with a particular friend, it might be time to stop spending time with that person.
Possessions. Books, magazines, clothes, and video games can take us far away from Christ if we play with evil stuff or make good stuff more important than Christ. We’re at a fork in the road each time we choose to tune in to good or turn off bad.
Even if you head down the wrong road, it’s never too late to turn around and get back on God’s path of doing good. But the better choice is to head down the right path as soon as you reach a fork in the road.
TALK: What people, places, and possessions make it hard for you to follow God? What makes choosing the right road hard? Why should you pick God’s path?
PRAY: God, help us see the danger areas in our life. Help us to make the right choice when we come to forks in the road.
ACT: Keep track today of how many forks you come to—choices between right and wrong. How does God help you make the right choice?