A Day-by-day devotional

February 9, 2023

Bus Ride

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: Psalm 90-91

Scripture of the Day: Exodus 13:21

If you are a commuter, be it on a bus, tram, or train, you know that depending on your final destination, there would always be several stops until you get there. In each of the stations, the vehicle would have to halt so that current passengers could get off, and new passengers could board.

In the course of the journey, until you reached your destination, you would have travelled with a number of people – some who got in on the vehicle earlier than you, some later. Likewise, among them, some would get off earlier than you, some later.

Life is a train, or tram, or bus. And our journey would always consist of meeting numerous people of different origins, with various backgrounds, from all walks of life. Some of them would sit with you, talk with you, and even finish the journey with you. Some would like you, smile at you, greet you. Lasting friendships can even form from the weirdest and most unexpected of acquaintances. Nonetheless, there would be some who wouldn’t like you. They would avoid sitting next to you and prefer to stand somewhere than be stuck next to you on the journey. Still, there would be some who would gladly offer you a seat next to them.

Each passenger you travel with has a destination. It is everyone’s goal to reach it at the appointed time. For this reason, not only the vehicle needs to be reliable, but more importantly, its driver. Every driver is trained well not only how to operate the vehicle but how to troubleshoot when problems arise, in order to bring the commuters safely to where they need to go.

In life, we are commuters riding on a vehicle that everyone else gets to ride as well. We each have a story to tell, a life to live, a purpose to fulfill. Some of us travel through shorter routes, some longer. It all depends on where we are headed. The journey can be comfortable for us, or it can be boring and uneventful. It can be anything we would like for it to be for as long as we’re on board.

We can read a book, work on our laptop, talk on the phone, study for an exam, prepare a sermon, converse with a fellow passenger, or just plainly stare on the ceiling or look out to the windows, enjoying the scenery. What we do while on board defines how the journey would be like for us.

Passengers do various things according to what pleases them. Still, it is only the driver of the vehicle that has the authority and final say with regards to the journey and how to arrive at the destination.

The vehicle is our life as we set on our journey. As passengers, we each have a destination. We each have a purpose. Nonetheless, only the driver is in complete control of the journey. In our life, if we are passengers, the driver cannot be us. Therefore, we do not control our life. We need to hand that over to a competent driver. It is your choice whether you allow God to be that in your life – or it could be someone, or even something else.

Reflection: Who is the current driver of your life?

Prayer: Dear God, I am but a commuter in this life. Please show me how to give you complete control of the vehicle that I am in. Be my driver, Lord. Amen.