Yesterday we were at a birthday party where our friend Scott was introduced to the children's toy known as Chinese Finger Locks.He put his fingers in, and a look of surprise spread across his face when he realized he really, really couldn't get them out.
"You have to push in!" we told him through our laughter. He looked a little bewildered that we were advising him to push his fingers in even further when it seemed there was already a death-grip on his pointer fingers.
Pulling out even harder would make a lot more sense. Pushing in surely seemed counterintuitive. But although our advice didn't seem right, he tried it--and it actually worked.
I feel like the God I serve says some pretty counterintuitive things in His Word. He said He could make 90% of our income stretch way better than we could stretch 100%. He said that the least on earth would be the greatest in the Kingdom of God. He said we should love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, and go an additional mile with someone who demands we walk a mile with them. He said the woman who had only a few pennies but gave them all had given far more than the wealthy who seemingly gave more. He said he wasn't nearly as interested in what was seen as He was with what is unseen. He said we shouldn't bother storing up treasures in a place where we may potentially live 90 or even 100 years. He said not to worry about your next meal. He said to seek His Kingdom before any other earthly pursuit.
I feel like the God I serve says some pretty counterintuitive things in His Word. He said He could make 90% of our income stretch way better than we could stretch 100%. He said that the least on earth would be the greatest in the Kingdom of God. He said we should love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, and go an additional mile with someone who demands we walk a mile with them. He said the woman who had only a few pennies but gave them all had given far more than the wealthy who seemingly gave more. He said he wasn't nearly as interested in what was seen as He was with what is unseen. He said we shouldn't bother storing up treasures in a place where we may potentially live 90 or even 100 years. He said not to worry about your next meal. He said to seek His Kingdom before any other earthly pursuit.
To people who live in a culture that finds these commands highly counterintuitive, these words just don't make a lot of sense. And so often people find themselves just pull, pull, pulling even harder.
But oddly enough, His words work. Every time. 100% of the time. All the time. Strange as they sound, they work.
Are you struggling with any of God's commands in the belief that they are counterintuitive? Do you find yourself pulling harder to make it work, or are you pushing into Him?
* Special thanks to Scott for letting me share his Chinese Finger Locks fiasco!
I don't always get a chance to actually write a comment (between a baby and toddler the computer is like a treasure they always want to grab), but I do always read, always ponder and think, and through you and your writing, God is really blessing me, challenging me, calling me to the more He has planned that I am too short-sited to see. Thank you for letting God speak through you!
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