Jericho

TODAY'S READING: Joshua 6:1-27
Ever wonder why God asks you to do something? I am sure that Joshua and the Israelites were a little confused when God gave them their instructions. March around the city and we will defeat it?!?!?
God is all about defying conventional wisdom. But when we are faithful we will have the victory. Jesus lived and breathed the wisdom of God.
"But I say, don't resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too. If you are ordered to court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow." (Matthew 5:39-42)
"But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:44-45)
"So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life--whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing?" (Matthew 6:25)
"If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the fault. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If that person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. If the church decides you are right, but the other person won't accept it, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. (Matthew 18:15-17)
"If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (Matthew 19:21)
"Then these righteous ones will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visityou?' And the King will tell them, `I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!' (Matthew 25:37-40)
And then...
The ultimate.
Hanging on a cross, Jesus asks God to forgive His murderers.
What is God calling you to do that seems outrageous?
Is it reaching out to that person that everyone makes fun of?
Could it be leaving a relationship that draws you away from God?
Do you need to get rid of some of your music?
Is it time to obey your parents?
God asks us to do a lot of things that seem crazy to this world, but isn't that what our struggle is all about? Paul seems to say it best.
I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God. As the Scriptures say, "I will destroy human wisdom and discard their most brilliant ideas." So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world's brilliant debaters? God has made them all look foolish and has shown their wisdom to be useless nonsense. Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never find him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save all who believe. God's way seems foolish to the Jews because they want a sign from heaven to prove it is true. And it is foolish to the Greeks because they believe only what agrees with their own wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended, and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the mighty power of God and the wonderful wisdom of God. This "foolish" plan of God is farwiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is far stronger than the greatest of human strength. (1 Corinthians 1:18-25)
Listen to God's wisdom.
Follow Christ's example.
Be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Then you can be outrageous for God!