Who is in the Driver's Seat?

Are we letting Jesus guide our decisions, or are we saying, ‘Jesus, I'll follow You as long as You let me do things my way’?
 

Topics:  Commitment, Control, Jesus Materials: Car Keys Duration: Approximately 5 minutes

Preparation:

None Needed

What you will say:

(Hold up the car keys.)
Let me ask you something. How many of you have ever been in a car with someone who was driving? Now, what would happen if you got in the car, told the driver where you wanted to go, but then grabbed the steering wheel and tried to control the car yourself?

(Allow for answers.)

That would be dangerous, wouldn't it? You can't have two people fighting over who's in control of the same car! But sometimes, that's exactly how we treat Jesus. We say we want Him to lead our lives, but when He asks us to do something we don't want to do, we try to take control back.

(Hold up the keys again.)
These keys represent control. When you get in a car, you trust the driver to take you where you need to go. Being totally committed to Jesus means trusting Him enough to let Him lead your life. It's easy to say, ‘Jesus, You can have my life!’ when everything is going well. But what happens when He asks you to forgive someone who hurt you? What happens when your friends pressure you to do something wrong? What happens when following Jesus means you might not be the most popular person in the room? That's when we find out who's really in the driver's seat. Are we letting Jesus guide our decisions, or are we saying, ‘Jesus, I'll follow You as long as You let me do things my way’?”

Read Proverbs 3:5–6
Notice that it says to trust the Lord with all your heart. Not just part of your heart. Not just when you're at church. Not just when life is easy. Being committed to Jesus means trusting Him with your friendships, your future, your attitude, your words, and your decisions. You might not always understand why God wants you to do something. But you can trust that His wisdom is greater than yours. And here's something important: letting Jesus lead doesn't mean we sit around and do nothing. It means we pray, study His Word, seek wise counsel, and obey what He teaches us.

( Hold up the keys one final time.)
This week, whenever you see a set of keys, remember to ask yourself this question: ‘Who's in the driver's seat of my life, me or Jesus?’ Are you willing to let Jesus guide your choices, even when His way is different from your way? Total commitment means saying, ‘Jesus, I trust You. I don't just want You to be part of my life. I want You to lead my life.’ Don't just give Jesus the passenger seat. Let Him direct every part of your journey!