Title: Learning to lean
Text Romans 8:1-17, John 14:21

My buddy rides a Honda motorcycle. It's red, it looks hot, it goes real fast and he rides it like a pro. My friend will take anyone for a ride on his Honda. Sounds fun? Sounds scary? It's not--unless you don't lean.

Even if you've never ridden, you've probably seen motorcycle riders lean in the direction they're turning. If they don't, the motorcycle (and the rider) will topple over.

To the passenger, it's a matter of faith. If he leans in the same direction the driver is leaning, the ride is smooth. But when the passenger panics, becuse it feels more natural to sit staright, that causes problems.

I told my buddy he was illustrating an important spiritual principle: If we lean away from sin and towards God, we enjoy a Christ-centered ride and can move in whichever direction God is leading us. Sometimes it feels unnatural to lean. All of our instincts, as well as some of the people around us, can cause us to lean away from God. Our own wisdom gets us in trouble. We suffer either a minor fender bender or a major wreck.

Learning to trust God is like leaning with a motorcycle: The first few times may seem unnatural, even scary. But as you get used to it, it becomes easier. Eventually, not trusting God's way seems crazy--as crazy as leaning the wrong way on a motorcycle.

Compare your Christian experience to a motorcycle ride. Have you come close to tipping over or crashing? Maybe you have been working against God instead of with Him.

An obedient Christian committed to following God's Will is like a motorcycle taking turns gracefully. But a Christian who does things his own way is like a motorcycle that is about to crash. What kind of ride are you looking for?

Questions for reflection: How can you lean more in the direction God wants you to go? Why is being obedient to Him so important?

~John Carvalho, Our Daily Journey, Jan 12 2008

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I believe that Khalis will agree with me on how important it is for his pilion to lean in the same direction as he is. And as I was chatting with him about this, i realised how important it is. And to me, this article speaks to me alot and i can relate to it very well. Having being pilioned many times and enjoying the thrill of it, I understand how uncomfortable it is at first to follow suit and how scary it can. Nonetheless, it's about trust and faith in the words of the rider and in the instructions that he says that will ensure safety.

Indeed, thank God for being my rider! Thank God that He will direct me on the path He wants me to take no matter how many twists and turns, S-course, Crank course and even U-turns He'll take me on before reaching that destination of eternity with Him. Thank God for showing me through this article! And I pray that I'll learn to lean on God and trust in Him. To obey my Rider! Amen!