I responded to a post from the blog by Eagle Brook Church Men's Pastor Josh Kesler with regards to a stupid sheep he saw. He ask me to follow up so here with go with my first thoughts.
In his illustration Josh talked about this poor stupid sheep whose head got stuck in a fence trying to reach something better. Great illustration and 100% right. It goes along with the current sermon series at the church also. I looked at it from a slightly different perspective. As you may or may not know we can all look at an event and come away with sightly or even vastly different perceptions of the event (what a great movie theme, oh wait it is coming out in a week or two).
My vantage point is influenced by my recent rereading and discussion around the book The Barbarian Way by Erwin McManus. You see in Josh's illustration I didn't see a stupid sheep looking for something better, no what I saw as a barbarian sheep looking to break out the conformity of the pen and do something greater. You see we can be that barbarian sheep, we can step out of the confines and safety of the "our pen" (what every your pen is) and serve God in a great an mighty way. You see it is not about us, rather it is about doing the will of God regardless of the danger, regardless of the sacrifice, regardless of the cost. What did Jesus say, come and follow me when it is convenient, after the big game, when you have a spare moment? No Jesus told us to take up our cross and follow. Don't ask questions, don't make excuses, simple follow me. I would love to say that this is who I am, 100% on board, but that would be a lie. It is something I am working towards, something that I believe in. You see I would rather be know for how I serve God and others, that for what I know.
3 comments:
Scott:
I like your perspective on the sheep that Josh brought up. And I appreciate your honesty in this post on your own blog.
In response to your "Why God?" post: I find myself asking that question a lot lately. But for me it is phrased differently than I think it is for you: Why, God? Why am I in this situation. Why is this happening in my life? Why is this stage of life so difficult?
I have been a Christian for 11 years, but a Christ follower for only 4. Before I became a follower I would ask "Why, God?" with a condemning tone toward God. As if God purposely put me in a situation to punish or 'mess' with me. Now I ask with a tone of wonder and listen for a response. Many times I find myself seeing what I am supposed to learn from my situation rather than how I feel about being in that situation.
I'm not sure if that is what you were looking for. Just my thoughts.
Ben
Thanks for the thoughts, as to my question Why God? as I noted in my first post, this question has many layers. The one I am exploring now is simply one of many. You are on a layer I was going to look at in the future. I think you have the right attitude when you ask the Why God? question from your perspective. What is it I can learn from the situation I am in.
2 comments- Ben, I love your insite on there being a distinct difference between being a Christian and a Christ Follower. I think that there are too many semi-convinced self followers driving around with a Jesus fish on their trunk convincing the world that it takes no effort to follow Christ. This dovetails nicely into my next comment directed to Scott's comments. I recently read the book of Matthew and found four passages particularly troublesome. Matt. 8:20, 8:21, 10:16-21, 10:24. In each of these passages, Jesus seems to be talking people out of following Him. He says, first consider everything before you bear my name. This is not an easy life. I am going to look for similar passages in the other gospel accounts. Grace is easy, following Christ is hard work and worth the effort. Keep it up men!
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