Isn't Life A-Maze-ing?

Application:

Jesus wants to be our Guide, so we need to know Him personally.

Bible Text:

Proverbs 14:12.

Lesson:

Life is like a maze and has many twists and turns. You can easily lose your way and come a cropper. But, there is only one true Guide in life and we need to know Him personally. Our verse for today is:

"There is a way that seems right to a person,
but in the end that way leads to death" (Proverbs 14:12).

Each of us has a life and we can choose to live it any way we like. What type of a life are you having?

Lousy? Not so good? Not bad? Or excellent?

One thing we need to remember is that the Bible warns us that there is a penalty for choosing to live a bad life Our text tells us that this way leads to eternal separation from God. All of us interact with other people and they influence us in some way. A girl who falls in love with a boy will make herself as attractive as possible for her beloved. A boy will act tough and macho when in the company of other boys who are good at sports. And all of us want to be like our heroes.

1. Parents:

As you grow up you will come to realise that your parents guide and mould you in many ways. By the time you reach your twenties, you will find that many of your parents values have become part of who you are! Ephesians 6:1-3 reminds us that the first commandment with a promise is:

"Obey your parents and honour your father and mother."

If you do this, it will go well with you and you will enjoy long and happy life here on the earth!

2. Friends:

Friends have a major influence in your life especially by "peer pressure." Choosing good friends is very important so that you will keep on obeying Jesus. You need to avoid being led into wrong things such as smoking, drinking, clubbing, raves, the occult, sex and drugs.

Good friends can certainly help you through life. But they know little more about life than you do, for they are mostly your age and have not lived long enough to gain wisdom. Here are some verses that tell us what good friends should be like:

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born to help us
when we are in trouble" (Proverbs 17:17).
"Some friends can ruin you,
but a true friend is closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24).

3. Circumstances and Choices:

All of us are effected by problems and situations which we face in life. They force us into making decisions which could be good or bad. In the end we have to make our own choices. Should we go this way or that way as friends or parents advise us, or should we just go our own way? Stop!! Test the way and see if it matches up to God's way. He wants us to go His way as He is vitally interested in our lives:

God created LIFE and He created you.
God wrote a MAP of life in the Bible and it shows His way.
God offers to HELP us to understand the map and be our Guide.
God does not FORCE us to accept His offer of help.
God will GUIDE us if we ask Him, through each problem in life.

4. The Bible Way:

You can choose your friends and you can choose who you will listen to, and decide whether to listen to advice from God, adults or friends. The Bible has this advice for you:

"In all your ways let God lead you, and He will direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:6).
"Your Word is a lamp that gives light to where I walk" (Psalm 119:105).
"I have hidden Your Word in my heart,
so that I might not sin against You" (Psalm 119:11).

5. God's Way:

Here are five ways that God wants you to have in your life and practise every day:

Know God personally as your Friend and Saviour.
Pray daily to God as He cares dearly for you.
Read the Bible and do what it says.
Memorise special verses so you can please God and not sin.
Be filled with God’s Holy Spirit to guide you in all you do.

Yes, life is "A-Maze-ing"! Life is a maze and we need a good guide to go through life. Who is going to guide you?

God bless!