I am the Way

Scripture is one of the best ways we can get to know God, but there are a lot of other pointers to who He is and what He can mean in our lives. For those struggling in difficult times, especially those who don't already know God in their lives, scripture, prayer and organised religion can seem to be a plunge in at the deep end, too much too soon. But anyone can come into contact with Jesus in their lives - through the beauty of creation, through an inspiring song or verse, through family and friends, through the kindness and support of a stranger.

This leads us to ask ourselves - how good are we at pointing? Through the way we live our lives, in our actions towards others, do we point to Christ? For those who have reached out to CAP for debt help, their experience with the debt coaches and befrienders may be the first contact they have with Christians. On the CAP journey, we walk them through the process and point to financial improvement or may point to other support networks or the church community. These are helpful, but as Christians Against Poverty, we also hope to point to Jesus as well so that our clients can know His love and support for their whole lives not just the journey out of debt.

John 14 14: 1 - 7 (NIV)

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

We can point to Jesus, Jesus is the Way and we also know the way. But as Thomas asks, how can we already know the way? Faith is experiential, it is not just knowing but growing along the way of life. Human experience is the route to spiritual existence through Jesus as the Way. And we can learn and grow and follow the way through the signposts in creation, in scripture, and in the lives and support of others, an individual journey but also a collective experience.

This is a great message to share with our Ely and District CAP clients and all who we meet - that they are not alone and that there is love and support for every step of the journey and signs pointing the way however desolate their surroundings may seem.

Please give thanks for all our Ely and District CAP clients, that they have had the strength to reach out and ask for help. Pray especially for the four new clients booked in this month, that CAP can provide the help they need to start their journeys out of debt.

Pray for our debt coaches and visit team, that they would be pointers to Jesus for our clients, through their love and care for the journey out of debt and beyond.

Pray for the preparations for the next Money Coaching Course, that this would be a way to help more people in our communities through financial knowledge and stability.