DANGEROUS WONDERS
Ever wonder why so many people say NO instead of yes? I think that one word has caused more problems in our society than any other word. Ok go ahead and say “Dale saying yes can be worse than saying no.” I totally disagree with that on the grounds of this. When someone asks you a question that you can morally and ethically say yes to, why would you say NO? This has nothing to do with being over committed or a tug of war with time. This is merely an opportunity to do something that you may otherwise not do. What is wrong with living in the danger zone from time to time?
Ever read the Gospel passage about Jesus at Jacob’s Well? He did something totally out of the norm for Jews of that generation. He encountered a Samaritan woman and engaged her in conversation. Jesus crossed the lines of societal norms and said yes when everyone else said no. How about in the Gospel of Mark when Jesus healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath? The Pharisees immediately sought counsel to have Jesus killed. Jesus asked the powerful question “is it wrong to do good on the Sabbath?” Once again he was willing to say yes to the man that needed healing when society dictated that he say no. There are dozens of examples in the New Testament where Jesus could have and should have said no but he said yes.
Consider where your life might be if you had said yes more times than no? Right now it would be easy to allow yourself to focus on all the times you said yes and wished you had said no. If that is where your thinking is going then you totally are missing the meaning of this message. This is about stretching your faith beyond the limits of what society dictates. This is about walking the road Jesus walked instead of simply walking the safe walk where all trod. This is about dangerous abandon with child like faith.
Look at your relationships with your kids, your spouse, or other friends and family. How often do you say NO when yes would have been a better answer? I am going to leave this meditation wide open for you to rediscover who and where you are in regards to societal norms. Are you a Pharisee adhering to a man made law that reduces your faith to ashes or are you a Christian ready to ride the highway to the danger zone to find your faith on fire for the Lord in ways you never thought possible?
If being a Christian to you is nothing more than a safe walk through life then I am telling you that you are missing the message of the kingdom. Being a Christian is or at least should be risky business. The message of Jesus at the beginning of his ministry was “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Near the end right before his ascension he challenges his apostles to go out and make disciples of all nations baptizing in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Jesus could have commanded them to stay home and play checkers but he told them to get up and get out. What are you doing? Are you playing it safe or are you ready to explore the depths of your faith and tap that wild at heart spirit that God gave you to raise his name on high?
Peace and grace
Dale Childress
dchildress@livinadream.com
www.livinadream.org
Ever read the Gospel passage about Jesus at Jacob’s Well? He did something totally out of the norm for Jews of that generation. He encountered a Samaritan woman and engaged her in conversation. Jesus crossed the lines of societal norms and said yes when everyone else said no. How about in the Gospel of Mark when Jesus healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath? The Pharisees immediately sought counsel to have Jesus killed. Jesus asked the powerful question “is it wrong to do good on the Sabbath?” Once again he was willing to say yes to the man that needed healing when society dictated that he say no. There are dozens of examples in the New Testament where Jesus could have and should have said no but he said yes.
Consider where your life might be if you had said yes more times than no? Right now it would be easy to allow yourself to focus on all the times you said yes and wished you had said no. If that is where your thinking is going then you totally are missing the meaning of this message. This is about stretching your faith beyond the limits of what society dictates. This is about walking the road Jesus walked instead of simply walking the safe walk where all trod. This is about dangerous abandon with child like faith.
Look at your relationships with your kids, your spouse, or other friends and family. How often do you say NO when yes would have been a better answer? I am going to leave this meditation wide open for you to rediscover who and where you are in regards to societal norms. Are you a Pharisee adhering to a man made law that reduces your faith to ashes or are you a Christian ready to ride the highway to the danger zone to find your faith on fire for the Lord in ways you never thought possible?
If being a Christian to you is nothing more than a safe walk through life then I am telling you that you are missing the message of the kingdom. Being a Christian is or at least should be risky business. The message of Jesus at the beginning of his ministry was “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Near the end right before his ascension he challenges his apostles to go out and make disciples of all nations baptizing in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Jesus could have commanded them to stay home and play checkers but he told them to get up and get out. What are you doing? Are you playing it safe or are you ready to explore the depths of your faith and tap that wild at heart spirit that God gave you to raise his name on high?
Peace and grace
Dale Childress
dchildress@livinadream.com
www.livinadream.org
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