2 Thessalonians 1:10 - Forks in the Road

2 Thessalonians 1:10 "when he comes to receive glory and praise from his holy people. And you will be among those praising him on that day, for you believed what we testified about him." (NLT)

Years back I made a choice in my life. I was at one of those very important "forks" in the road. Down one fork was a life that appeared to be full of challenges.............new knowledge...............excitement...................... different experiences.

Down the other road, all I could see was more of the same...........God being defined by this person or that in unique ways...........the Lord was still "out there" somewhere off behind the veil...............the world was full of evil and God seemed to be content with it that way, at least it seemed so through my perspective.

I don't know why............maybe it was fear.........maybe it was turning my back on the God that my parents seemed so interested in....I don't remember the specific reason, but I chose the path less glamorous at the time...........the path of the Lord.

My first attempts at steps down that road led to more of the same.........prayers that seemingly were not answered..........the Lord still out there beyond the mist......but there was something different. With each move I made towards the Lord, I'd begin to feel something back......this feeling grew stronger throughout the years until I felt it real strongly the night I found the Lord at the altar.

But it wasn't until recently, when I started paying attention to all that I was reading in His Word..........and what was preached from the pulpit.............and what the Lord spoke into my heart.............that I came to a true relationship with Him..........the one he intended from the very beginning............a two-way, active dialogue with me.

Along the way my love for Him started............and then grew............until today it is hard to imagine Him not being there.

It's also hard to imagine what Brother Paul is saying above..........that there will be a day when I will be standing along with all others who believe in Him, praising Him................giving Him glory...........the chorus of voices will include Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, David, Daniel, Isaiah,....thousands of others ............and Jim Ross.

I thank Him for helping me make the choice between, what is in hindsight, a two-dimensional world of glitz.......glamour and false expectations.........to one of infinite richness............beauty...........depth..........and permanence.........at the feet of the One Most High, Jesus Christ.

Love in Jesus,

Jim

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"But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired." (1 Corinthians 12:18 NASB)

"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission."

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This devotional was originally posted on CCI-Devo - Daily Group Devotionals on January 11, 2004 in post #450. It was written by Jim Ross, a former United Pentecostal Church member, who attends Christian Challenge International, the sponsor of the devotional group. The devotional is the copyright of Jim Ross and is reprinted on this site by permission.

Page added April 14, 2006

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