Have you noticed it? I know it happens all the time but so often I seem to miss it. As I worked on the sermons for the next few weeks the mist cleared a little! God seems to be repeating Himself! Two weeks ago Andy shared with us from the life of Manasseh (2 Chron 33). He pointed out the way in which we allow idols (anything that takes the place of God) to litter the temple of our lives. Then as I went over last weeks message in my mind I realized it could be encapsulated in the words: Sin displaces Jesus.  (For those of you asking why did I not make it that clear on Sunday? This clarity only came later, for my part I can only apologize, if you want reasons you will have to consult the Almighty!)
So if God is repeating something to us it normally means it is very important for us and/or it’s an idea we have difficulty grasping. I pondered the matter some more and it occurred to me that we ask Jesus to take a number of different roles in our lives. Here are a few…
The Consultant. Most of the time we have been Christians long enough to know how things work so we can get on with the Lord’s work. Jesus is of course the expert and He knows best so I call upon him whenever I face a difficult problem and where would I be without Him in those challenging moments.
The Manager He’s in charge, He gives us tasks to do and we get on with them. The daily meeting with Him is very important because that’s when the day’s work is clarified As long as we have a good meeting then I’m good to go for the rest of the day. Sometimes, if I have the time, we can catch up at the end of the day as well, which can be nice.
Back seat on a tandem! I am doing my best but I really am in need of advice on a pretty regular basis. I wish I did not have to bother Him so much but for the moment it really is important. So long as He is on the back of my tandem I can ask for directions anytime and He can whisper in my ear anytime He likes which is cool.
Front seat on a tandem He gets to decide where we are going and how to get there. I get to be in constant contact with Him to ask how He wants me to contribute but mostly I just follow him and pedal at the speed He shows me. I am glad I am attached because it really helps when my mind wanders.
Now which one of those do you think is the role Jesus plays in the life of a growing Christian? To which situation should we aspire? Jesus himself answers that question for us:

“… I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me” John 8:28b

It seems so logical that Jesus of all people could have worked the consultant relationship to its fullest BUT sounds like God’s on the front seat of the tandem to me. If that was the best for Jesus I know it will be the best for me.

It occurs to me that we could look at the prayer I suggested we pray each day as simply asking Jesus to get on the front of our tandem each day and to help us not take the front seat from Him then, at the end of the day, ask Him to show us how we did at staying on the back! 
I know that God is challenging me to focus better on one thing at a time and allow Him to set my daily priorities, getting one thing done at a time rather than my way of just trying to get as many things as possible done with maximum speed! So how are you doing? Is He making any changes for you as He sits on the front of your tandem?

PS I am indebted to Chuck Swindoll for the original tandem idea but I regret I can't remember which of his many wonderful books I read it in!