Matthew 5:37

Cathy Madavan takes a humorous look at the need for simple obedience to Father's instructions.

Cathy Madavan

This year my eldest daughter turned 17 and started her driving lessons. And so we entered the heady season of exorbitant insurance premiums twinned with promised freedom and independence, which is all very exciting. When I say exciting, of course, what I actually mean is terrifying. My precious child is going to be let loose in a tin can with wheels, moving faster, it now seems to me, than humans should realistically be able to travel, and at the mercy of the other muppets on the roads and their random driving habits.

The lunacy of other drivers was spectacularly brought home to me recently when, as we negotiated a particularly hectic junction onto the M25, the driver in front of me suddenly went from 70mph to a complete standstill; he simply stopped his car on the motorway. Fortunately, my years of driving experience enabled me to simultaneously yell carefully chosen loving words, hit my horn and attack my brakes whilst checking my mirrors to see whether I was about to be rammed by another car from behind.

Meanwhile, after about a minute of considering his options, with cars veering and gesticulating wildly around us, the doolally driver decided he was good to go and proceeded along the motorway in his own merry world, apparently unaware of the carnage he almost caused on one of the country's busiest roads. We, in turn, finally let out our breath - which was excellent, as we now resembled a family of purple beetroots out on a day trip.

Some people, it seems to me, are gifted at stopping. With no prior warning or indication, they pull out of commitments, they abandon skills and even bail on relationships when the going gets tough or their feelings tell them to. Most of us know these people. I have certainly worked with them, served with them and been friends with them, and have come to realise that they are usually oblivious to the potential carnage they leave around them, and the danger and disappointment they cause to themselves and others. They also miss out on some glorious journeys.

In contrast however, other people relentlessly motor on forever, never pulling over to refuel, to rethink or even to rest. They either amble forwards in the slow lane in a giant rut or accelerate continually in the fast lane of life with a focus so blinkered that they are equally unaware of all that surrounds them. These people are not sure how to stop and they are absolutely exhausting and exhausted.

We can all create elaborate justifications for not fulfilling our commitments, and we can also live with false guilt or faulty motivations that prevent us from stopping when we should. Jesus knew that and modelled to us something different - a life only doing what his Father asked him to do. When it comes to making promises to people or projects, Jesus clearly asks us not to make fancy oaths or false promises, but instead "All you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." Matthew 5:37.

Thankfully, the Holy Spirit helps us to know what is our Father's business for our own life. Just as the colours of traffic lights alert us as we travel, the Holy Spirit helps us to navigate our own personal spiritual journey. Sometimes he gives us a sense of conviction and permission to go ahead and to give ourselves wholeheartedly (green); sometimes he prepares and equips us for new seasons ahead and likewise prepares us to slow down and begin to let go where needed (amber); and sometimes, as he did for Jesus, he clearly nudges us to stop what we are doing and move on to something else (red).

But as is so often the case, it is driver awareness that is the issue! The question is whether you and I are sufficiently engaged with God and the whispers of his Spirit to be confident about his leading in our life. When we are prayerfully navigating each day and following his direction, then we can know with confidence that when we say 'yes' the Lord will give us everything we need to follow through on that commitment, and when we say 'no' the Lord will provide the right person for that task, leaving us free from a guilt overdose.

The truth is, we are all wearing L-plates and learning to be more like Christ. None of us get it right all of the time. But in order to travel this faith-filled adventure, we need to be courageous about following Christ - whether that means saying yes, preparing for what's ahead or even saying no. So, let's thank God for his guidance and commit once again to being aware and obedient on the road ahead today.