Outside the Box

John 7:21-24 (The Message) Jesus said, "I did one miraculous thing a few months ago, and you're still standing around getting all upset, wondering what I'm up to. Moses prescribed circumcision—originally it came not from Moses but from his ancestors—and so you circumcise a man, dealing with one part of his body, even if it's the Sabbath. You do this in order to preserve one item in the Law of Moses. So why are you upset with me because I made a man's whole body well on the Sabbath? Don't be nitpickers; use your head—and heart!—to discern what is right, to test what is authentically right."

Jesus’ ministry was not the typical ministry of His day. His ways and teachings continuously clashed with those of the mainstream religious leaders. His methods and message were, to say the least, unorthodox. He resisted the pressures of Pharisees, followers, and family, and maintained His focus on the Father. Pleasing God was more important to Him than pleasing men. There is a quote “What are the seven last words of a dying church?” The answer: “We’ve never done it that way before.” When seeking God’s will for our church, we may often grind against the grains of tradition, doctrine, preference and bias. And yet, just as Jesus did, we must maintain focus on the Father throughout. The easiest thing to do is to go with the flow and accept the usual ways. Yet, our goal must remain to find God’s will, regardless of how “out of the norm” it may seem. Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.


May God Bless you EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY, ABOVE ALL YOU CAN ASK OR THINK!