I ask myself, "Is it the Lord speaking to me, through my conscience, when I see a law being broken?" Is He speaking to me when I myself commit an offence? As we attempt to achieve the holiness God desires of us, is there a point when I might say, "Almost there!"?

I don't think so! He has a way to remind me. Case in point: have you found yourself driving a little over the posted speed limit and justifying your actions as acceptable because "everyone else is doing it"? So why did the "authorities" over me choose to post 100 km/h if 110 is tolerated? Does that mean "legal" is what is enforced?

I sat in a mall parking lot, eating lunch, facing a three-way stop. It was a very busy intersection, and I observed, with interest, as cars approached the stop sign. A couple actually stopped, probably because they didn't want to collide with another car. Most cars, however, rolled through the intersection. I checked the signs, and they definitely said STOP.

We all have a tendency to justify our wrongs. We all break rules! Why was the rule created? To protect us! God has allowed governing authorities to rule over us. When we disobey them, we disobey Him. There is no justification for disobedience.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for continually speaking to us, guiding us daily to be closer to You. Thank You for those you have put into place to govern over us. Thank You for loving us enough to care for us. Amen.

I have a furry alarm clock. Every morning at 6:00 a.m., give or take a couple of minutes, my golden retriever lays her face on the bed beside my head and sighs. It's as if she says, "Okay, it's time; let's go." So I bundle up to face the elements. One winter morning, we walked to the end of the drive, the fresh, unmarked snow crunching beneath my feet. We crossed the road and set off into the white field. At that time of the morning, it was still dark, and the clear sky revealed the bright stars peeking through the heavenly canopy. I focused on the silhouette of a dark, tall pine tree in the woods bordering the field. I tried to walk a straight line into the darkness of the early morning. I was sure my path was true as I concentrated on my goal. I reached the tree and turned around toward home. The bright house spotlight shone into the darkness, revealing my crooked path.

I returned home, this time focusing on the beacon from my dwelling place. When I reached the house, I turned to observe my trip. I noticed how much more direct my route was, compared with my walk in the dark. However, it was not perfect.

Then I thought about my walk with Jesus. I wondered how my path has been since I met Him. I realize that, without Him, life is a journey in darkness, and the resulting path is crooked for each of us. This journey now is a walk toward the "Light of the world". Is my path straight? I doubt it, but I am ever grateful that I have the guiding light of my Saviour as He brings me home.

The same guiding light, that is here to bring me home, is here to bring each of us home, if we walk towards the "Light of the world".

Prayer: Lord God, help us to keep our eyes focused on Jesus, and to turn to Him to direct every step we take, every decision we make, and every word we say, because this journey called "life" is difficult without Him. Amen.