Leading from the Symphony...

I read this this morning in Our Daily Bread's devotional: "World-renowned violinist, Joshua Bell, has an unusual way of leading the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, a forty-four-member chamber orchestra. Instead of waving a baton he directs while playing his Stradivarius with the other violinists. Bell told Colorado Public Radio, “Even while I’m playing I can give them all kinds of direction and signals that I think only they would understand at this point. They know by every little dip in my violin, or raise in my eyebrow, or the way I draw the bow. They know the sound I’m looking for from the entire orchestra.”Just as the orchestra members watch Joshua Bell, the Bible instructs us to keep our eyes on Jesus our Lord. After listing many heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11, the writer says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Heb. 12:1–2)."

It's not easy sometimes to look to Jesus for our needs. Sometimes it's because we think the things we want are so trivial, it's not worth bothering Him. Sometimes it's because it's something so huge we feel it's impossible. And sometimes it's because the trouble we're in is a result of our own choices. We need to keep in mind that those heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11 went through lots of self-inflicted circumstances: Abraham, King David, and the rest were regretful over what they'd done outside of God's instructions. But they ran to Him for help in repentance and "He rescued them out of all their distresses". God can and will do the same for you! Don't miss out on any bit of His plan for your life because of previous choices - of yourself or others! Look toward the conductor- follow Him and be part of the most amazing Symphony!