Be Like a Donkey

We've got the idea that being a Christian is comfortable and is supposed to make sense. We want things to be the same, consistent, and orderly. I'm sorry that I have to share the bad news. That's not how this life works. God shakes things up as soon as we think we've hit a smooth path and will coast for a while.

"The God of the Bible is the master of surprises: frightening clouds of smoke and fire, earthquakes, windstorms and firestorms, donkeys that talk, pillars of salt, oceans splitting apart, using a little boy to kill a giant, the Messiah in swaddling clothes and dying on a cross." ((Messy Spirituality by Mike Yaconelli. p. 59)

God uses methods to speak to us that we would never use in a worship service. Maybe I need to re-think my sermon illustrations, though. Does anyone have a pillar of salt I can use?

"When the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the ass with his staff. Then the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?"" –Numbers 22:27-28 RSV (when is a better time to use the old translations?)

Balaam ignored what God was trying to show him, so God used his donkey to guide the way. When that didn't work, the donkey talked! I don't think you have a talking animal, but we have moments with God through our secular music, the person who serves our coffee, etc.

We must be ready and willing to have God turn our lives upside down at any moment. If we're always prepared, then we won't be surprised when it happens. We'll also be looking to see where God is and what he's doing.