3/30/2025
Isaiah 30:21
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”
The verse is referring to the path of God, the path of Christ. The Way is a significant, meaningful, and deep concept. Jesus Christ declares in John 14:6, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
This phrase reminds us that Jesus is not merely a path, but the path – the ultimate guide for living a life of faith, hope, and love. Through His teachings, example, and sacrifice, He shows us how to navigate life’s challenges and embrace God’s purpose. Jesus is our access to God and eternal life. He bridges the gap between our physical, worldly being and our spiritual being.
Christ is the individualized essence of God within us. The spirit of Jesus Christ is within every person, regardless of ethnicity or religious background. We do not all identify his presence within us, or if we do, we have various names for that presence, such as Krishna, Buddha, Allah, Universal Mind, and many others. This does not make people who believe differently wrong or evil; it provides cultural variety to our humanness.
Regardless of our religious beliefs, we live as our most spiritually vibrant self by following the laws of God written on our hearts. That spiritual guidance is within each of us and we are made aware of it through God’s individual presence within us, which is Christ. Christ is our savior, our guide, our teacher, our friend, companion, and confidant. When we feel lost or uncertain, we can turn to Jesus for clarity and direction.
Personally, my connection with Christ is such that I speak to God and Christ and Spirit as one presence. My heart does not distinguish between them. God may be the Father, the Creator, the underlying energy of Love, Peace, and Joy in the Universe; Jesus Christ may be the individualized essence of that energy within us, our savior and teacher, and Spirit may be the creative intelligent energy emanating from God that brings into being all of Creation. But I see God as one essence, and I speak interchangeably between the various parts. When I speak to one, I am speaking to all. But that is just me. Each of us feels God’s tug in our own way. Just be gentle with others pursuing their guidance through The Way.
The Way refers to the teachings and example of Jesus Christ, which embody love, unity, and reconciliation across cultural differences. It highlights a way of life that transcends barriers and fosters inclusivity. Regardless of our religion or background, The Way embraces principles like compassion, hospitality, and a perspective to build bridges between diverse communities, reflecting God’s plan for unity and love.
Mary and I enjoy a television show called, “The Mandalorian.” They have their own spiritual precepts, ancestral traditions, and code of honor, and when those beliefs become evident as a choice laid out before them, they say, “This is the way.” Ironically, their ‘way’ is our ‘way.’ It is The Way. The path of honesty, goodness, rightness, and fairness; the path of Love.
The Way resonates deeply in Matthew 22:37–39: Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.’ This is The Way.
Central to “The Way,” is love and reconciliation. The parable of the Good Samaritan is that of reaching across cultural barriers and transcending differing beliefs to show love and compassion. Jesus engaging the Samaritan woman at the well breaks cultural barriers and demonstrates grace, truth, and reconciliation, which are core to “The Way.” The path of Christ makes us aware of our own spiritual nature. Through Christ we rise above our physical nature and live through who we truly are, a spiritual being, a child of God.
The Way emphasizes unity, as seen in Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” When we are walking within The Way, we see beyond diversity and recognize the unity of God’s children. We are taught that all people are created in the image of God, which promotes the idea that cultural diversity reflects God’s creativity and purpose.
By focusing on forgiveness and love, we overcome prejudices rooted in cultural expectations or societal norms. Wisdom, understanding, and empathy reduce the tendency to stereotype or judge others based on their background, beliefs, or socioeconomic status. The Way encourages individuals to value and celebrate differences rather than fear or reject them.
Times will get tough, and we will want to look where someone else is walking. We may second-guess our path. Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” It is at these times of doubt that we turn to prayer; we turn to the inner guidance available to us, and trust. Walking within The Way means living in obedience to God’s commands.
It is common, and human, to doubt. Do not beat yourself up. Moses was a great vessel for God, but he doubted himself. In Exodus 3:11 Moses questioned his worthiness and ability to confront Pharaoh and lead the Israelites, saying, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” Then God answered him in verse 12, “I will be with you.” And God was with him. Through Moses, God transformed a staff into a serpent to convince his rivals of his divine calling. Moses complained that he stuttered and that his speech was not eloquent, then God spoke eloquently and convincingly through Moses. The point is that we will doubt, but it is not our power that is displayed when we walk in The Way; it is God’s power. It is God’s Way, not our Way.
The path of Christ leads us to live with integrity and walk a course of honesty. In the words of Proverbs 11:3, “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” Living with integrity means being honest and upright in our actions and thoughts, trusting that God will lead us in the right direction.
God's purpose for our lives unfolds step by step, and it is essential to trust His timing and direction. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Recognizing that God's plans are for our welfare and future allows us to pursue our purpose with confidence and faith.
We are taught in Proverbs 19:21, “Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.” Trusting in God's purpose helps us align our ambitions with His divine will, leading to a fulfilling and meaningful life.
The Way requires trusting Him even when we do not understand His plans fully. In prayer or other quiet times, we can reflect on areas in our life where we need to surrender control to God. We can discern the right path for decisions regarding relationships and finances. In the Silence of God’s Presence, we can seek the wisdom for raising children and grandchildren, and seeing us through times of illness, loss, and other challenges. The words written on our hearts lead us to peace, prosperity, love, and joy. God whispers to us, “This is the way; walk in it.”
“The Way” is not just about following human rules or traditions—it is about following Jesus Christ wholeheartedly. Jesus showed us that we can follow God’s spiritual laws, words, and commands, which we perceive intuitively, the words “written on our hearts.” He is our salvation, our guide through challenges, our source of strength, and our example of love.
It is my prayer that we will walk in “The Way,” trusting Christ completely, obeying His Word faithfully, and shining His light brightly for others. Let us be diligent in living with integrity, pursuing God's purpose, fostering inclusive relationships, overcoming distractions, and demonstrating God’s wisdom in all our earthly encounters. In doing so, we honor God and reflect His love to the world. This is the way, walk within it.
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