Higher Thoughts, Higher Ways by Andrea Marino

God has given us free will. It is unwise to consider it ‘doing as we please’. Without a standard, people run wild. The Holy Spirit leads us to the truth. (Proverbs 29:18, John 16:13)

When Jesus told the disciples, He would be leaving soon, but they could not follow at this time, Peter questioned the statement, adding emphatically, “I will lay down my life for You!” (John 13:37 HCS) A rooster crowed 3 times before Peter would deny even knowing Him.

As a new Christian, Jesus was attractive to me. Attentive to my cries, meeting every need, He often granted many of my wants. But was I following Him? Sooner or later, we will grapple with Jesus being Lord over our lives. Like the disciples, wondering what happened to Him in a violent storm upon the sea, we will experience Jesus appearing more silent and distant than when we first believed.

Life is not what we think, neither does it go according to our desires. At best, human reasoning is amusing. Peter’s response during the transfiguration is. (Matthew 17). Seeing the Lord, shining like the sun, talking with Moses and Elijah, jubilantly, he blurts out a plan to build three tabernacles—one for each of them. As if our time on earth was the only life to live. Anyone would be caught up in the euphoria, witnessing the glory of the Lord. Peter’s response is endearing, coming as naturally as his explosive reaction in cutting off the ear from one of the soldiers who had come to arrest his Lord. “You cannot follow me now, but will follow later.” (John 13:36b HCS)

The natural mind is blindsided to a realm very real, and yet cannot be seen with the naked eye. With limited understanding of spiritual things, the disciples’ initial focus was Jesus putting an end to Israel’s oppressors. Absolutely God’s plan before the beginning of time, it will be the final outcome. This life is about learning not to lean on our own understanding. Trusting the Holy Spirit opens us up to know God’s higher thoughts and ways. (Isaiah 55:8,9, Proverbs 3:5,6) “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Mathew 16:24,25 ESV)

Twenty-four years ago, ready to send my last child off to school on the bus, when the door opened, much to my surprise, was a neighbor sitting behind the steering wheel. She and I had a nasty confrontation a while back. I was happy just to not have to deal with her. Until now. Boarding the bus to assist my daughter with her seatbelt, this neighbor/driver sternly expressed the action, going against school policy. I stood right where I was until I heard the click of my daughter’s seatbelt. That afternoon, mad as ever, I determined to give that neighbor a piece of my mind. But lo-and-behold, as I walked across my front lawn to the bus, I heard a still small voice say: Tell her to have a nice afternoon. ‘No way, Lord’! I immediately responded, recounting to Him how badly she had mistreated me years ago with cutting words, totally uncalled for. Flustered, as my daughter bounded down the stairs of the bus, I looked up at my neighbor, and with a smile politely said exactly what the Lord urged me to say. Oddly enough, I felt peace. Here was a small victory over my flesh; it was a portion of Holy Spirit fruit to enjoy now. Walking by the Spirit, we will not carry out the deeds of our flesh. (Galatians 5:1,13,16,22) It is good to be free of old thoughts and ways.

Jesus said there were some standing with Him who would not taste death until seeing the Kingdom. (Luke 9:27) Scripture bears evidence of the disciples recognizing the Kingdom of God in their midst. It changed them. And they followed Him. We, God’s people, are undoubtedly plodding along through times of terrible spiritual darkness. The Lord may seem silent and distant, although we are persuaded He is neither. How much we wish these times of oppression were no more. Nonetheless, we are not floundering around in a carnal mindset, but have the power of the Holy Spirit upon us. (Acts 1:8) God is shaking the earth to remove all evil. After all is said and done, what will remain are His words. (Hebrews 12:27, 1 Peter 1:25). Here is a revelation for all who have eyes to see and ears to listen. Like the old gospel song, ‘Bringing in the Sheaves’ points out, we, God’s people, see fields ripe and ready for harvest. Transformed lives are powerful witnesses to Jesus Christ. Committed to the call of His Great Commission to shine the light of His glory, we hold in our minds the words of Jesus: “Your hearts must not be troubled. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. I am going away to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:1, 2,3 HCS)

Andrea Marino

Andrea loves spending time with her children and grandchildren, and enjoys cycling on the open roads with her husband, David.