Freedom on the Path 自由之路
Dexu Xia
You, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth. Isaiah 26:7
In Beep Baseball, the players who are blind listen for a beeping ball or buzzing base to know what to do and where to go. The blindfolded batter (to account for various degrees of blindness) and sighted pitcher are on the same team. When a batter swings the bat and hits the beeping ball, he or she runs toward the buzzing base. The batter is out if a fielder “smothers” the ball before the batter makes it to the base; otherwise, the batter scores a run. One player remarked that the best part is that he feels “great freedom in running” because he knows there’s a clear path and direction.
The book of Isaiah tells us that God, “the Upright One, make[s] the way of the righteous smooth” (26:7). When this was written, the path for the Israelites looked anything but smooth; they were experiencing divine judgment for their disobedience. Isaiah exhorted them to walk in faith and obedience—the often difficult but smooth path. Being concerned for God’s “name and renown” (v. 8) was to be their hearts’ focus.
As believers in Jesus, we come to know more about God and build our trust in His faithful character as we follow His ways in obedience. Our path in life may not always look or feel smooth, but we can be assured as we trust in Him that God is alongside us and making a way. We too can feel freedom as we run in obedience on God’s best path for us.
By: Anne Cetas
What steps of obedience do you need to take? When and how might you do this?
Father God, I’m grateful for the freedom I experience on Your good path. Please keep showing me Your way.
祢为正直的主，必修平义人的路。—以赛亚书26章7节
盲人棒球是专为视障者设计的一项运动，视障球员藉由聆听会发出哔哔声的特制球和嗡嗡声的垒包，判断球的位置和跑垒方向。戴着眼罩的打击者（考量到视障程度不同）和明眼的投手同一队。当打击者挥棒并击出球时，他必须跑向鸣响的垒包。若打击者未上垒前，球被防守方成功拦截，即被判出局，反之则得分。一名球员表示，最棒的部分，是他在奔跑时感觉特别自由，因为他有明确的奔跑路线和方向。
以赛亚书告诉我们，上帝是“正直的主，必修平义人的路”（以赛亚书26章7节）。那时候，以色列人的道路并不平坦，他们正因自己的悖逆而受到上帝的惩罚。以赛亚规劝百姓要走在信心和顺服的道路，这是一条艰辛却平坦的道路，并且鼓励他们要一心尊崇上帝的“名”（8节）。
身为基督徒，当我们顺服上帝，按祂的真道而行的时候，我们就会更加认识祂，并更加相信祂信实的特质。人生的道路也许并不总是一帆风顺、事事顺心，但我们可以安心无虑，因我们确信上帝与我们同在，并为我们开路。当我们顺服上帝，在祂为我们安排的最佳道路上奔跑的时候，我们也同样会感到特别自由。
作者： 施安妮
你需要采取哪些步骤来顺服上帝？
你会在何时并以什么方式来进行？
天父上帝，感谢祢引导我走在祢那美好的道路上，
使我能经历自由，求祢继续向我显明祢的道路