One of the most difficult things for me to do is to be in the passenger seat of a vehichle when one of my family members is in the driver's seat. Almost any time we go somewhere, I am the driver. Some would argue that this is a control issue, and they may be accurate, but I tend not to mind being in the passenger seat when a friend or someone else is driving. It is only when one of my family members is driving that I tend to have a problem.
The other difficulty that I have is more metaphorical in nature. It has to do with being in charge of the direction of my life. I feel that I am the best qualified to determine the direction that my life takes and the decisons that impact that direction. However, I have recently become haunted by a passage of Scripture and the words that Eugene Peterson uses when he translates this portion of Scripture in The Message. Here it is:
"Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat, I am." -Matthew 16:24
This makes it pretty clear to me that if I am going to confess to being a follower of Jesus Christ, I need to be in the passenger seat in life. Jesus intends to lead me and my life. Jesus is in charge.
I don't know about any of you, but that is difficult for me to always abide by. I struggle with wanting to hold on to the decisions of my life when I know that I need to make those decisions solely dependent upon the guidance of the Spirit. And as a church leader, I need to also be mindful that my leadership should be following the leadership of the Lord. This is the Lord's church, not mine. Jesus, as the head of the church, is the one that determines the direction the church goes.
So if you can relate to my struggle, please share how you overcome your inner desire to be in the driver's seat.
This is a great post, Jim. In fact I think I'm going to use it for a devotion for our session meeting next week. We've started to dip into our annuity, and I've started to get very anxious about that. (Partly, I've realized, because since they hired a full-time pastor (me) they are spending more money). But in talking with someone, she said it was a conscious decision by the PNC and session, and the money is there to be spent. So I need to realize that God is in the driver's seat, not me. If I can remain non-anxious (or get that way) it will help everyone else. And when we're non-anxious, we can listen to God better.
Posted by: Suzanne | May 28, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Thank you Suzanne. Let me know how your session responds to these thoughts.
Posted by: Transforming Leader | May 28, 2009 at 11:27 AM