The CROSSing Guard

Every morning when I drop my son off at school I see the same gentleman dressed in a bright yellow coat or vest standing in the middle of the intersection. He maintains a watch in all directions for anyone that may need to cross the street. And when he sees them he stops all the traffic and helps the pedestrian to safely reach their destination. (He sometimes even waves me onto make my left hand turn before letting all the traffic resume! )

The crossing guard’s job is to protect pedestrians. However, for him to be able to do his job effectively a few things need to happen. First, the oncoming traffic needs to recognize the crossing guard, trust his signals and then obey them. The pedestrian also needs to recognize,  trust and obey. If either the pedestrians or the drivers of the vehicles are not alert or do not respond appropriately there can easily be a disaster. BUT if the pedestrian keeps a watchful eye on the crossing guard he/she will remain out of harm’s way. As long as there is a connection between hte crossing guard and the pedestrian everything will go smoothly.

Actually just last week I heard a story of a crossing guard that held the hand of a little girl and was walking her across the street when a car neglected to stop. The crossing guard put himself in front of the girl, held onto her and took the hit sending them both over the hood of the car onto the ground. The guard shielded the girl and protected her from any injury!

Jesus is our Crossing Guard in this life. He died upon a cross taking on our sin so that we may have eternal life with Him and fellowship with the Father now and forevermore. If we place our hand in HIS and trust in HIM walking through the streets of our life with HIM , RECOGNIZING, TRUSTING and OBEYING,we will remain in HIS eternal protection.

“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.”

Isaiah 58:8 NIV

Just as the children in front of the schoolyard learn to stop or walk according to the direction of their crossing guard we must also learn, trust and obey the direction of our Heavenly crossing guard. The Scriptures have been given to us so that we may have life. 

The verses that precede Isaiah 58:8 lay out the direction for us to “then” have our righteousness go before us and the glory of the Lord as our rear guard. It says that we must go beyond fasting for our own personal growth, that spiritual discipline without kindness and service to others is of no value in our walk with Him. God calls us to recognize the signs of needs and respond to them. 

We are called to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to provide shelter for the homeless and to speak out against injustice and set free those held in bondage. I want the glory of the Lord as my rear guard.  I want HIM leading me, beside ME too!

So how’s your walk going? Are you following the directions that God has laid out for you? Spend some time meditating on Isaiah 58. Read it and read it again. Remember HE has a watchful eye out for you but you need to keep your gaze fixed on HIM,  and recognize, trust and obey HIS directions. Study the Word daily and listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  If you walk in the way of “true fasting” as God has directed you will be radiant and full of HIS beauty, HIS glory will splash all over you!!!

Joyfully,

ruthann