Stay Out of the Ditch!

I first learned from reading some books by a teacher named Rick Joyner this idea about ditches in the Christian walk. He explains, like the Scriptures tells us, that the way of Truth is narrow, and that on either side of the pathway of truth there is a ditch of error.

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it (Matthew 7:13-14).

This can be seen in the example of faith vs. law: Too much emphasis on the law of God without dependence on His grace leads to legalism; too much emphasis on grace without obedience to His law leads to taking license with His mercy and excusing sin and the flesh.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law (Galatians 5:16-18).

Staying on the narrow path of truth means walking by the Spirit. In so doing, through faith, we fulfill God’s law by His grace and the power of His Spirit who mightily works within us.

Another place we see a narrow pathway with a ditch on either side can be found in John 4:24 –

God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.

There’s a quote that goes something like this: “Too much of the word and you dry up; too much of the Spirit and you blow up; the right amount of both and you grow up.” I’ve heard this from a couple of different teachers. It’s all about balance.

So how do I stay balanced? STAY CLOSE TO JESUS. He’s on the straight and narrow – in fact, He IS the straight and narrow.

I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me (John 14:6).
But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

Our pastor once said that if you're wondering about the balance in something, you can pray from the heart, “More light, Lord, more light!” And He will give it.

Oswald Chambers wrote,

“Get into the habit of dealing with God about everything. Unless in the first waking moment of the day you learn to fling the door wide back and let God in, you will work on a wrong level all day; but swing the door wide open and pray to your Father in secret, and every public thing will be stamped with the presence of God.”
My Utmost for His Highest, August 23rd, page 173

How do we keep out of the ditch? Stay very, very close to Jesus, with your hand tightly clasped in His!
Tags: Spirituality, Christianity, Worship