Ps Paula continues the theme of Pathways which began last week.  Sometimes we go wandering or are led to wander off the path we are on by another person. There is a path that Jesus wants us to follow, the path of righteousness.  God’s way, His path is best for us, He has a great track record of providing the best for us. But we do always have a choice! Psalm 23 says (NIV) “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. We can take the path that the Good Shepherd our God is leading us. 

God's ways are totally different when the world screams ‘do whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it’. God calls us to crucify our flesh and it isn't always easy. The path of righteousness is about our actions and our responses. Matthew 7:13 says (NIV) “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it”.

Like Zacchaeus, we need to be able to let Jesus into the mess of our lives. When you let him in, he speaks freedom and he speaks restoration and like Zacchaeus, (his identity was restored), so can ours be. 

God we need you, help us, restore us, and bring us back onto your path, in Jesus name, Amen.