Roadmap or Roadblock

Roadmap or Roadblock

Is our life a roadmap to Jesus for others—or a roadblock keeping them from Him?

In this episode of Woman in the Word Podcast, we take a heart-level look at the way we live, the way we love, the way we respond, and the way we represent Christ in our everyday lives.

As women of faith, our lives are constantly telling a story. Through our words, choices, attitudes, relationships, and actions, are we pointing people toward Jesus—or are we creating barriers that make it harder for others to see Him?

This is an invitation to examine our lives through the truth of God’s Word and ask the difficult but necessary question: When people encounter me, do they see a reflection of Jesus that draws them closer to Him?

Because our lives may be the very roadmap someone needs to find their way to Christ—or, without realizing it, a roadblock standing in their way.

Come with us as we reflect, repent, and discover what it truly means to live a life that points others to Jesus.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to Woman in the Word, the podcast where we dive into scripture, ask real questions, and walk through the Bible together, one honest conversation at a time. I'm Felicia Parker, I'm your host, and I'm so glad you're here. So whether you're new to the Word or you've been studying for years, there's a seat at the table for all of us. So grab your coffee, open your journal, or put on your walking shoes, and let's get into it. Hey, welcome to the Woman in the Word podcast. I am so excited that you are joining me today. As always, I am looking forward to our conversation. Today's gonna be a good one. It's been on my heart for a few weeks, and it's called Roadmap or Roadblock. Let's go ahead and get into it. So, what had me thinking about this conversation as far as roadblock or roadmap was my just reading over Romans. And what really got me was in Romans chapter 8, and this is talking about the life that we live in the spirit and um what that looks like in comparison to walking in the flesh. But one thing that really jumped out to me was Romans chapter 8, verse 19, and it says, For all of creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. And I kept thinking about that, and I was like, Man, who his children really are? I'm like, wow, that question is weighty. If you ask yourself, am I one of the true children of God or one of the children that will be revealed as his true children, as as one of the children that, you know, belong to Christ? And I thought about that and I said, okay, what does it look like to be a true disciple or deemed a child of the most high God? What does that truly look like? And then what does that look like seemingly to culture or to the world, but not to the kingdom? And so this kind of took me down this road of just conversations and prayer, and um it it really made me think about is our life a roadmap or a roadblock? And what I mean is, is your life a reflection of what it looks like to be a child of the Most High God, of what it looks like to be a true disciple, and is it drawing peace people closer to Christ? Or is it a roadblock? Is it the like it says in 2 Timothy 3 5, having a form of godliness, but denying the power? So you have that form of godliness, but there is no power being displayed almost as if you push back on the power, but you show up with the behaviors, you know. So it's kind of like somebody can dress up in a nurse's outfit or a or a teacher's outfit that they would, you know, deem a way a teacher dresses in class, or a business person with the briefcase and all the things, but yet they don't possess what is needed to be successful in living that thing out, but they show up looking like it. That's what a form of godliness looks like. We show up with you know our Sunday morning best, or we show up with our favorite scripture that we can quote, or we show up with our Christian-ies. I am blessed and highly favored, and God is good all the time, and all the time God is good. Now, is anything wrong with that? No, if you truly mean it, yes. Um, but I think sometimes that is what it looks like to have a form of godliness. Like I know how to put on, so it looks like I'm the part, but when we really dig deeper, there is nothing behind uh what we're displaying. And so that to me is what the Bible describes as a roadblock because at the end of that verse it says, stay away from people like that. So it says, Okay, who should I stay away from? Of course it tells us, okay, in in Psalm chapter one, not to sit with certain people, not to hang out around certain people. And I'll read it to you. It says Psalm chapter one, verse one, oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or stand around with sinners or join with mockers. Okay, so we've got the wicked, we've got the sinners, and we've got the mockers. But in the New Testament, we also hear about those that walk around with a form of godliness. So those could be the ones that, like I said, they walk around as if Christ has made his home in their heart, but really he hasn't taken up residence because it says they deny the power thereof, meaning they deny the power that Christ possesses, but they walk around wearing the Christian outfit or saying the Christian thing so it looks like it, but scripture warns us stay away from those people, just like it tells us in Psalm 1, hey, don't stand around with these people, don't sit around with these people, don't hang with these type of people. And then we also see in 2 Timothy, and by the way, those that walk around with the facade of Christianity, but they don't really have the power of the Most High God working on the inside of them because they deny Jesus and the power that he possesses. They say, stay away from those people because those are your roadblocks. Hey, I just wanted to take a quick pause in our conversation and introduce you to the lover of your soul if you have yet to meet him. I would love to lead you in the prayer of salvation. So if you'd repeat after me, that'd be awesome. Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and I'm in need of a savior. I confess that Jesus is Lord and I want him to be the Lord of my life. I believe that you raised him from the dead to rule and reign for all of eternity. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with the precious blood of Jesus. I thank you, Lord, for dying on the cross just for me. In Jesus' name, amen. Hey, if you just prayed that prayer, I want to welcome you to the family of God and just say congratulations. Another red flag verse in the Bible that lets us know what a roadblock looks like is in Matthew chapter 18, verse 6, but I'm gonna read verse 5 first. And it says, Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trust in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. What he's saying is don't get in the way to where you cause someone to sin. Don't be the reason why people are led astray. Be the reason why people are drawing closer to Christ because of your life, because of your witness, because of the change they see in you. Don't be the one that it says that draws these young people away. It says, it'd be better if you tied a big boulder around your neck and was cast into the depth of the sea. And in Matthew chapter 18, we see that this is where Jesus is answering a question that the disciples asked him in regards to who's greatest in the kingdom. And he says in verse 4, anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. So he's saying, hey, the humility that a child has, that childlike faith and that childlike humility is the key to the kingdom. And then that's when he leads into saying, hey, anyone that causes this little child to go astray and fall into sin, it'd be better if they had the rock tied around their neck. And he's letting us know, hey, I don't want you to follow after anyone that is pulling you away from me. But he's also saying, I don't want you to be that person that is pulling people away from me. I don't want you to be that person that is calling causing people to fall into sin. I don't want you to be that person that's causing people to walk in a form of godliness. I don't want you to be that person that is the mocker or you know the sinner or walking in wickedness. I don't want you to be that person because it says, woe to you. Like there is responsibility that comes with being a roadmap or a roadblock. The consequence of being a roadblock is Jesus says, Hey, it'd be better if you were just no longer leading people, but rather you're at the bottom of the sea. Not saying, okay, I want to kill everybody, but he's what he's saying is take it seriously the fact that you could lead someone astray and lead someone into sin. Take it seriously. And he takes it so seriously that he says, verse 7, what sorrow awaits the world because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting? So what he's saying is, Woe to you, who is the person that is bringing on the invitation to sin, who is opening the door to temptation, who is inviting people in to that space in that place. He says, Woe to you, and what what great sorrow awaits that person.

SPEAKER_00 9:02

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SPEAKER_01 9:32

We see in John chapter 15, this is where Jesus is talking about the vine and the branch. It says in John 15, verse 1, I am the true grapevine, and my father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so that they can produce even more. Then he tells us, Remain in me, verse 4, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. So that right there is letting us know what it looks like to be a roadmap and what it looks like to be a roadblock. A roadmap is the person that's staying connected to the vine. We can't be fruitful without staying to the vine. So we have to stay or remain connected to Jesus, meaning we've got to stay close to him, we've got to stay in his word, we've got to stay in his presence, we've got to stay in prayer so that we can stay connected to the vine. And he says, Hey, and this is this is what I need you to understand. If you're severed from the vine, you can't be fruitful. So if you're severed and you are far away, now you can't be fruitful. And it goes on to say in verse 8, when you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. And this brings great glory to my father. And it went back to my question of okay, you know, true children, true disciples, what does that look like? And it lets us know right here, hey, if you're a true disciple, you're producing much fruit. So we should be able to see people and see the godly fruit that's being produced in their life. And we should also be able to use godly discernment and see those that it's they're seemingly severed from the vine. And it lets us know if you're severed from the vine, you're not producing anything. Because it says in verse 5, I am the vine and you are the branches, those who remain in me, and I in them will produce much fruit. For apart from me, you can do nothing. So we've got to remain in order to produce, so that when we produce, we are deemed true disciples. And when we're producing and bringing glory to God, we are now deemed true disciples, but we're also considered his children. Because in Ephesians chapter 5, verse 1, it says, Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. So what we can connect from Ephesians 5 and John 15 is that when I stay connected to the vine, because Jesus stayed connected to the Father, I am now imitating Christ. And now I am being an imitator of my dearly loved Father. And because I'm doing what I see Christ doing, because I'm staying and I'm remaining, I'm not only deemed a true disciple, I'm now redeemed a child of the Most High God. Obviously, we know we have to pray the prayer of salvation and accept Jesus into our heart and admit that we're a sinner in need of a savior. Absolutely. We also need to have a life that is producing fruit to show who we belong to. And in order to be a roadmap, folks need to be able to see your life. They need to be able to see that you are producing fruit. They need to be able to see that you're remaining when others are severed from the vine. They need to be able to see that. And on the flip side, if you're a roadblock today, we are not coming to make you feel bad or to beat you down, but to let you know that the Bible gives severe warning. It says, woe to those, great sorrow to those, watch out for those. And if that's you, I would ask that you would pray and ask God to point out those areas where you're a roadblock. Maybe you're a roadblock because you choose uh gossip over staying quiet. Maybe you're a roadblock because you turn a blind eye to certain things because maybe you've gotten numb in your spirit in regards to those things. So maybe cursing or shows with certain things in it doesn't affect you anymore or conversations or movies or whatever, but you're telling others, oh, it's okay, oh, it's not a big deal, it's just a show, it's just a song, it's just a, it's just a, it's just a. And and what the Bible lets us know or warns us is hey, don't be the one that opens the door to temptation. Meaning, don't don't invite temptation, don't serve it up as if, hey, it's a-okay. But it says rather be the one that is protecting these people that have put their trust in the Lord. Be the one that's so remaining in connection to the vine and in your intimate walk with the Lord that people see it. Hey, I just wanted to take a quick break in our episode and share with you some really exciting news. This year we are hosting our first ever outreach experience. This is an expansion of the gathering, and it is hosting 12 to 20-year-old young men and women. I'm really excited about it. The location will be UNLB Student Union Ballroom. It's gonna be a great time of word, worship, connection, free merch, free food, a great concert, and you don't want to miss it. And it is totally free. So all you have to do is jump on our website, purpose-promise.com, click on the gathering drop-down, register, and we look forward to hosting you. All right, let's jump back into the episode. Like it summarizes it in Philippians chapter 2, verse 12. It says, Dear friends, you always follow my instructions when I was with you, and now that I am away, it is even more important. This is the part, y'all. Work hard to show the results, the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. So when we stay close to the vine, when we choose to be a roadmap, y'all, this is the thing that we have to work at is working hard to show the results of our salvation. What does that mean? I'm not opening the door for somebody else to walk into temptation because I'm dumbing it down as if it's not a big deal, or if it as if it's not there, or as if we're strong enough to stand against it, knowing that the only way we can do that is by the power of Christ Jesus. Or I am being a roadblock because I have a form of godliness. But if you open the door to my life, it's empty because I have no results to show of my salvation. And so, y'all, I pray you're hearing my heart on this. Let's all strive to be a roadmap. Let's all strive to be the one that points those to Jesus. Let's all strive to be the salt and the light of the world so that people see us and they want to know him. Not they see us and they say, well, shoot, she's okay with it. And she says she's a Christian. So I guess this thing or that thing or this idol or this vice or this whatever it is, it should be okay because she says she believes in Jesus. She says she goes to church on Sunday, she says she does this or that. But hey, if she's okay with it, it must be fine. Because y'all, it says, woe to that person, great sorrow to that person. The things that they will have to deal with because of the door that they open to temptation for someone else. It says, woe to the one who chooses to be the tempter. Y'all, I never want it said of us that we're choosing to be the tempter for somebody else's life. On September 19th, 2026, women will gather at the UNLV Student Union Ballroom for a powerful day of connection, encouragement, and renewal. The gathering, 2026. There's a seat waiting just for you. Okay, y'all, listen to this. Matthew 5, and this is teaching about the salt and the light. Matthew 5, verses 13 to 16. It says, You are the salt of the earth, but what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. Verse 14, you are the light of the world, like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a blanket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand where it gives light to everyone in the house. Verse 16 in the same way. So everyone will praise your heavenly father. Y'all, we've been called to be a roadmap, and it states it clearly right here in Matthew 5. It says, Hey, you're a light, you're a light that should be shining. So everyone that sees it will use that as the light pointing them to Christ. Verse 16, in the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see. So there should be something we see in a person that's a roadmap that is not evident in a person that is a roadblock. And it says right here, your good deeds should shine so bright that everyone will praise your heavenly father. So that lets you know, okay, this is another aspect of what it looks like to be a child of the most high God, that your good deeds shine. And they don't shine for you to shine brighter, they shine so that your God is made bigger for the world to see because they see you, the roadmap shining so bright that they want to know about your God. And maybe this is just me. Maybe these were just thoughts I had on my heart and on my mind. But y'all, I want us to consider honestly and take inventory of our life and say, am I truly a roadmap? Am I truly a child of the most high God that is showing, working hard to show the results of my salvation? That is in the same way letting my good deeds shine out like a lamp that is put on a hilltop. Am I allowing it to shine? Or am I like scripture says, am I walking in a form of godliness? Or am I the one that's opening the door to temptation because I'm watering it down or I'm dumbing it down or I'm turning a blind eye to it because it really doesn't bother me that much anyway, because I'm really not connected to the vine like I should be. And y'all, I want us to search our hearts because one thing I do know is Jesus is coming back, and he's coming back looking for those who are prepared to go with him. And y'all, it says in scripture in Revelation, Jesus came back for 10 virgins, y'all, and only five got to go because there were five that weren't ready. Maybe those five walked in a form of godliness. Maybe those five decided, you know, I'll turn a blind eye to that sin, this sin. You know what? It's okay, it's not a big deal. I mean, you know, it won't hurt you that bad. Who knows what the reason was? But scripture says they didn't have enough oil. They ran out, but the five that were wise, they had enough oil because they knew the wait was gonna be longer than maybe they would have thought. And y'all, I need you to hear me. Scripture says don't get weary and well doing, don't go from being a roadmap and slowly and surely going into being a roadblock because you're tired, because you are weary, because you are worn down in your spirit. I want you to understand you need to plug in to the secret place and get strengthened again. Like it says in Ephesians, I pray that God would strengthen you by his spirit in your spirit, man, so that the love of God would take root in your heart, so that when the winds and the waves of life come, you won't be moved, that your roots will go so deep, you won't be shaken. You won't go from being a road map to a roadblock. Like it says right here in Matthew 5. You won't lose your salt because this is what it says about salt that's thrown out and it's trampled into fruit as worthless. God did not send us here to live a life that is deemed worthless. He sent us here to live a life that is deemed worthy of his glory. So I ask you today, search your heart and ask, are you truly a roadmap? Or are you a roadblock and you need to ask God to help you so that you can become that roadmap again? And my prayer is that you would find the strength to continue to be that roadmap no matter what it feels like, no matter what it sounds like, no matter what it looks like, because I'd rather be a roadmap for the kingdom of God than have to deal with the woes and the sorrow that is coming to those that are roadblocks. Thanks for hanging out with me in the Word. I hope it encouraged your heart and gave you something to carry into the rest of the week. If it spoke to you, share this with someone who might need it too. And hey, don't forget to follow or to subscribe so you don't miss out on what's next. Until then, keep showing up, keep listening, and let his word lead the way.