In Matthew 10:16, Jesus says, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” That decree is then reiterated in Luke 10:3 “Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.”
From a human perspective a lot of what Jesus teaches is pretty insane. It doesn’t make sense! Think about it. Love your enemies. If you want to be great, first learn to be a servant. If someone smacks you across the face, turn your head and let him slap you on the other side. If someone steals your coat, offer him your shirt as well. If you want to live, you need first to die to yourself. Then Jesus says that He sends us as sheep among wolves?? We’d be eaten alive!!!
Last month, I was challenged to read this book called, “The Insanity of God” by Nik Ripken. This is not his real name by the way. All the names have been changed in order to protect the identities of the people still living in real danger. Nik and his wife set out on a journey to 72 countries gathering stories of over 700 persecuted followers of Christ. Initially, I thought that I could read 322 pages in just two or three sittings no sweat. However, I was wrong. The impact of this book was more powerful than I could imagine. On more occasions than I expected, I was forced to pause and weep – first, for my suffering brothers and sisters around the globe; and second, at the conviction that I have been living a mediocre “Christian” life. Every page from beginning to end, drips with the most inspiring, heart-breaking stories of life in the darkest places and faith resurrected.
Perhaps like me, you’ve struggled (at some point in your life) with sharing Jesus in a place where people simply think they don’t need Him. I am a citizen of the United States – the land of the free! I was raised in Hawai’i, a place globally known as the land of paradise. I have lived in prosperity and don’t recall ever being in a serious life or death situation. However, the threat to our faith here is much different. In my opinion, Satan is already winning as he watches so-called Christ followers fall into various temptations, idols, or gods. Has our yielding to the soft tactics of the devil caused our faith to slumber?
While we enjoy our freedom of not having to suffer the consequences of denying our faith, others are being thrown in prison (put to death even). While we allow our bibles to collect dust on the shelf, others are excitedly distributing ripped pages of the Old and New Testament. While we sit comfortably in church, others are gathering in secret… And while we are praying for our sufferings to cease, others believe that persecution is as normal as the sun rising from the east…??! That. is. INSANE. Nik put it best when he says, “Perhaps the question should not be, ‘Why are others persecuted?’ Perhaps the better question is, ‘Why are we not?’”
I cringe at the verse found in 2 Timothy 3:12, “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” It’s a scary thought but God does not want to throw us into a pack of wolves alone and unprepared. We are promised that as His sheep we can rely on our Shepherd for guidance, protection, strength, and wisdom.
So if you ever come across “The Insanity of God,” I hope you’ll read it. Don’t be put off by the title because God is certainly not insane. However, be ready for Him to wreck your reality.
Will you follow Jesus even when it doesn’t make sense?
In Matthew 10:16, Jesus says, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” That decree is then reiterated in Luke 10:3 “Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.”
From a human perspective a lot of what Jesus teaches is pretty insane. It doesn’t make sense! Think about it. Love your enemies. If you want to be great, first learn to be a servant. If someone smacks you across the face, turn your head and let him slap you on the other side. If someone steals your coat, offer him your shirt as well. If you want to live, you need first to die to yourself. Then Jesus says that He sends us as sheep among wolves?? We’d be eaten alive!!!
Last month, I was challenged to read this book called, “The Insanity of God” by Nik Ripken. This is not his real name by the way. All the names have been changed in order to protect the identities of the people still living in real danger. Nik and his wife set out on a journey to 72 countries gathering stories of over 700 persecuted followers of Christ. Initially, I thought that I could read 322 pages in just two or three sittings no sweat. However, I was wrong. The impact of this book was more powerful than I could imagine. On more occasions than I expected, I was forced to pause and weep – first, for my suffering brothers and sisters around the globe; and second, at the conviction that I have been living a mediocre “Christian” life. Every page from beginning to end, drips with the most inspiring, heart-breaking stories of life in the darkest places and faith resurrected.
Perhaps like me, you’ve struggled (at some point in your life) with sharing Jesus in a place where people simply think they don’t need Him. I am a citizen of the United States – the land of the free! I was raised in Hawai’i, a place globally known as the land of paradise. I have lived in prosperity and don’t recall ever being in a serious life or death situation. However, the threat to our faith here is much different. In my opinion, Satan is already winning as he watches so-called Christ followers fall into various temptations, idols, or gods. Has our yielding to the soft tactics of the devil caused our faith to slumber?
While we enjoy our freedom of not having to suffer the consequences of denying our faith, others are being thrown in prison (put to death even). While we allow our bibles to collect dust on the shelf, others are excitedly distributing ripped pages of the Old and New Testament. While we sit comfortably in church, others are gathering in secret… And while we are praying for our sufferings to cease, others believe that persecution is as normal as the sun rising from the east…??! That. is. INSANE. Nik put it best when he says, “Perhaps the question should not be, ‘Why are others persecuted?’ Perhaps the better question is, ‘Why are we not?’”
I cringe at the verse found in 2 Timothy 3:12, “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” It’s a scary thought but God does not want to throw us into a pack of wolves alone and unprepared. We are promised that as His sheep we can rely on our Shepherd for guidance, protection, strength, and wisdom.
So if you ever come across “The Insanity of God,” I hope you’ll read it. Don’t be put off by the title because God is certainly not insane. However, be ready for Him to wreck your reality.
Will you follow Jesus even when it doesn’t make sense?
