The road we walk, the hard, narrow road of life.

But how are we to walk this road set before us?

Well, one of the keys is found in Micah 6:8 where it is written:

“He has showed you, O man, what is good.

And what does the LORD require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

The Lord always shows us and reminds us.

For this is of God, and a good and right thing to do: that we act justly and be just.

That we love mercy and show mercy just as God is always  merciful.

And that in all that we are, to always be humble, and walk humbly before the Lord our God.

And this is done by love, because love comes from God, as God commands us to love Him and also our neighbors.

We pick the narrative up in Mark 12:28-31…

“And one of the scribes came and having heard them reasoning together and perceiving He had answered them well, asked Him which is the first commandment of all?

And Jesus answered him: “The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.  This is the first commandment.

And the second is like, namely this: thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self.  There is none other commandment greater than these.”

This is our life’s work…nothing is greater!

Right now, think about how much you love God.

In your heart.  In your soul.  In your mind.

And now make two fists and squeeze them as hard as you can in loving God with all your strength!

Help us Lord to love you more and more each and every day of our lives in every step we take on ‘The Road We Walk.’

When did our walk with the Lord begin? I don’t know the exact date for me, but I believe things were put in my way that influenced me, things like popular songs of the day, for example, the  lyrics got me to thinking, and though I might not have understood them then, I understand them now.

In 1963, the radios were alive as we listened to the hit song, “I Will Follow Him,” by Peggy March.  This song was later featured in the 1992 movie, “Sister Act,” with Whoppie Goldberg leading the church choir.

I’m sure we all remember that movie, right? How we were captivated and the music made our feet move to the rhythm?

Well, mine did and still do!

All of a sudden the words had meaning: they were singing about following Jesus on the road of life! Following Him everywhere no matter what!

So listen to the words and see if you agree:

“I love Him, I love Him, I love Him…

And where He goes I’ll follow, I’ll follow, I’ll follow…

 He’ll always be my true love,  my true love, my true love…

From now until forever, forever, forever…

I will follow Him, follow Him wherever He may go…

There isn’t an ocean too deep, a mountain so high it can keep, keep me away…

I must follow Him, ever since He touched my hand I knew…

That near Him I always must be, He is my destiny!”

Yes, we love Him, we love Him, we love Him, and we will follow Him for He is our destiny.

Then there was the pop hit song in 1969 by the Hollies called, “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” also made popular by Neil Diamond in 1971.  Do you remember?

You know, we just don’t walk the hard, narrow road of life and do nothing, do we?

Aren’t we always helping in some way?

Well, for one thing, we help our brother; we help those who are less fortunate and those are hurting and those in need.  And if need be, we carry them.

So listen to the words of that song and think about our journey on the road we walk…

“The road is long, with many a winding turn, that leads to who knows where, who knows when?

But I’m strong, strong enough to carry him…

He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.

So on we go, his welfare is my concern, no burden is he to bear, we’ll get there…

For I know, he would not encumber me…

H ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.

And if I’m laden at all, I’m laden with sadness…

That everyone’s heart isn’t filled with gladness, of love for one another.

It’s a long, long road, from which there is no return…

While we’re on the way to there, why not share?

And the load doesn’t weigh me down at all…

He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.”

Somewhere along the way, in our minds (that precious gift from God called imagination) we have walked the road to Bethlehem to see the newborn baby Jesus lying in the manger in a cold stable…

And we walked the Emmaus Road and participated  In The Breaking of Bread with Jesus, and weren’t our hearts warmed?

Somewhere along the way we walked to Calvary where Christ was crucified  and died on the Cross.  Not even the Cross nor death could prevent us from following Him, for He is alive for evermore.

And sometime on our journey we walled the ‘Romans Road where we found that we are all sinners before God!  That Jesus died for our sins and that believing, our sins are forgiven and we have eternal life.

Yes, we have walked these roads many times in our minds as if we were really there…

And it is a long, hard road, but miraculous that He makes bearable!

For just up ahead is Jesus, our Lord and Savior who leads us, and guides us, and helps us and loves us and carries our burdens, and at the end, leads us home.

God’s blessings to you, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit…

Amen.