The Early Followers.
The early Christians were known as “followers of The Way.” This is seen many times in the book of Acts. One example is in Acts 9:1-2 where Saul (later known as the apostle Paul) obtained letters from the high priest to bring any followers of “The Way” (in Greek, “hē hodós”) he found in Damascus back to Jerusalem where the followers would have been taken as prisoners, tortured or killed.
What Is “The Way?“
Jesus declared himself “The Way, The Truth, and The Life,” and stated that, “No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you know Me, you will also know My Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” John 14:6-7 The way is the path God intends for you to walk or the means in which you reach your destination. Jesus is The Way in which you reach your creator, our Father. Jesus is The Way to reach the only destination worth striving for. This destination is not fully known, however, as you walk further down the path you can see more and more of it. The destination is the hope that lies in Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3-6), the reuniting with the Father, the full sanctification of all followers, and everything else God has prepared for us.
Walking The Path.
To the follower of Christ, the location of the path is known. However, just because one knows where the path is does not mean that he is following it. That is why we are called to be followers of The Way and not just knowers of The Way. God does not force us to follow The Way as he does not want us as slaves (John 15:15). God guides us on our journey through the Holy Spirit and through His word. God doesn’t just show us how to follow the way, He is The Way.
Distractions and Obstacles.
Following someone else can be difficult, especially when our first instinct is to pave our own way as the world affirms us. Our own pride and the distractions of this world are some of the obstacles that can cause us to stumble or delay following The Way. (Matthew 13:1-23) Shows specific examples of how someone, who has heard the gospel and knows where the The Way is, can stumble and fall from following it. Following someone else requires humility and trust.
Endure and Produce
The Word of God is clear that following The Way will not be easy. We are called to stand firm in the faith and endure to the end of this life. Each day we walk the path getting closer to our destination in which we don’t fully know but see in part through the hope that lies in Jesus Christ. Along the way we are being sanctified and bearing the fruits of the spirit, producing good works that please God. While none of us will be perfect in following The Way, God uses flawed and sinful people who have a desire to please him. Therefore, do not be discouraged and trust in The Way, The Truth, and The Life, Jesus Christ.
The Way
As a company, our flagship verse is Isaiah 30:21 which says, “and whenever you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: ‘This is The Way. Walk in it.”
Following The Way was not exclusive to the New Testament. The entirety of chapter 30 in Isaiah is a depiction of how successfully following The Way, (in Hebrew, “Derekh”) and failing to follow The Way, played out for the Israelites.
Isaiah 30 is a story of two different outcomes, the first is the Israelites that did not trust God and desired to form an alliance with Egypt. God told them that they would be delivered from the coming invasion of the Assyrians by, “returning and resting,” in Israel. However, they did not listen, God said that they, “piled sin on top of sin.” These Israelites were placing their faith in their own intellect and the protection of other humans who were not chosen by God. God then declared that this decision will be their shame and they will flee until they are, “like a solitary pole on a mountaintop,” alone and a warning sign to all others who dare to follow their own way. The other outcome was for the Israelites who listened to God’s instruction and followed His way. God said for these people that they would never weep again, and that as soon as He heard them cry out, He would hear them and answer them. God gave them what they needed during hard times, and He said that The Way will not be hidden from them any longer, so that whenever they turned to the right, or to the left, they would know The Way. However, they still were commanded to walk in it. God showed The Way, but the Israelites still had to make the right choices and walk in The Way God intended for them to. The Israelites who placed their faith and trust in God, and followed The Way, then repented of their sins and the land produced many riches leading up to the day of great slaughter when the Assyrians were defeated.
Our Story
We are a Christian clothing brand that seeks to deliver fashionable and original faith-based designs on quality apparel to as many people as possible. We want to Encourage and facilitate conversation about the Gospel of Jesus Christ through our clothing. Then build a community of believers who strive to seek God in their daily walk. As it pertains to the devotional you just read, we are striving to show people The Way and then aid and encourage them to follow The Way.
Share Your Story!
Please share your story with everyone in the comments. I love reading other people’s testimonies about how God has worked in their life. What has been your experience with finding The Way? What are some struggles you have had to go through (or maybe are still going through) to follow Jesus? Also, just let us know what’s on your mind.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He lived a perfect life while existing as fully human and fully God, served us and did the will of his father ultimately culminating in his atoning sacrifice on the cross. Believe in Him and repent of your sin. Love others as He loves you. To God be the kingdom, the glory, and the power forever.
–The Way Team