Daily Butter: Stay the Course

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (6/25/11):

 

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing those from whom you learned, and that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:14-15 HCSB)

With the parallel made from Verse 16 in today’s ODB to a GPS guiding one back on course, these verses are a reminder to me that I know the route. Yes, life will throw in some detours and distractions on the journey, and no, my Bible didn’t come with turn-by-turn “thou shalt marry Sharon” instructions, but it has been a faithful guide. Though my road has not been a faithful following every step of the way, I am blessed with a heritage rooted in the scriptures much like Timothy.

The title I chose: “Stay the Course” comes from one of my all-time favorite movies “The Patriot” starring Mel Gibson. In the movie set during the revolutionary war, Gibson’s character is reminded by his eldest son (serving under his command in the militia at that point) to “stay the course” in pursuit of the cause in spite of the fact the battles were going poorly. The reminder came again from a colleague as Gibson’s character sat beside the body of his son who was killed when going off on his own seeking revenge in rage. Perhaps a bit strong, but the phrase has now become a vivid reminder to me of the importance of staying “on track” and the potential consequences of trying it “my way.”

I have written it before (though in pre-blog entries) that I totally agree with the statement: “It’s not the parts of the Bible I don’t understand that bother me, but those that I do.”

Andy Jentes