We're logical beings. It's the way God created us. He gave you a brain, and you are expected to use it. We can't function without our brains... every part of our bodies takes orders from it. However, I often wonder if we become obsessed with logic. If we can't wrap our minds around an idea, then it simply cannot be true... If we don't see it with our own eyes, then we can't really believe that it happened...
I think God knew that we needed to be saved from our own understanding, because my life would be so incredibly boring if I depended only on the things that my human brain could comprehend. In our society, much emphasis is put on what we know. We go to school so we can get an education... so we can be taught... so we can obtain knowledge. The more knowledge we have, the better job we can get. With the better job comes more money... more money brings more power, and the list goes on. We are so obsessed with logic and knowledge and understanding. Don't get me wrong, knowledge and education are important things to have, but I don't believe God intended for us to have all the answers.
When I look back on the times that I've seen God at work in my life or in the lives of the people around me, I notice that it's never logic that brings heaven to earth, rather it's faith...
When I went to Cambodia, my team and I went out to the Red Light District and bought women out of the industry for the night. When I told people that's what we were going to be doing over there, a few people said, "won't you just be adding fuel to the fire?" Meaning, I'm feeding the industry by paying for the women. Logically, that sounds correct. So I asked God what he thought about it, and he told me, "Kirby, if you don't buy them, someone else will. Either they see me tonight, or they see satan."
Most people don't think its very wise for a little American girl like me to spend my life in the Red Light Districts around the globe... or in the strip clubs, or with the prostitutes... logically, they're probably right.
But if we had stuck with logic instead of acting in faith, we wouldn't have seen nearly one hundred girls experience the love of Jesus that night. We wouldn't have seen our sweet friend be delivered from the sex industry or fund her dream of going to school.
I think it's natural for our human brains to go directly to what "could" happen. We like to think we should weigh all of our options before we make a move... we try to think things out, so we can attack the problem in the most logical and efficient way.
I can't help but believe that this is the wrong way to do it.
We might never fully understand why God calls us to do certain things, or take certain jobs or move to certain cites or even countries... we might never fully comprehend what God has up his sleeve. He doesn't ask us to understand. He asks us to walk by faith, and not by sight. He asks us to listen to him and obey him. In my bible study about James, I read this section written by Beth Moore. She is saying this is what James might have been thinking when he finds out that Peter has been set free from his imprisonment after Jesus assends into heaven...
"Jesus said not to fear those who can only kill the body. Think past the pain. We may be captured, but we may be rescued. We may see horrors, but we may see wonders. We may lose our heads, but we cannot lose our souls. The stakes are up. The fire is lit. It's time to live like those who cannot die."
We may see horrors, but we may see wonders... this is the life of a Christ follower. I dare you to lay down your logic. I promise that your life will explode into magnificent color and excitement if you choose the path of faith rather than logic. It will be a challenge, and it will be process... but when we walk by faith, we obey. And when we obey, God wins.
I think God knew that we needed to be saved from our own understanding, because my life would be so incredibly boring if I depended only on the things that my human brain could comprehend. In our society, much emphasis is put on what we know. We go to school so we can get an education... so we can be taught... so we can obtain knowledge. The more knowledge we have, the better job we can get. With the better job comes more money... more money brings more power, and the list goes on. We are so obsessed with logic and knowledge and understanding. Don't get me wrong, knowledge and education are important things to have, but I don't believe God intended for us to have all the answers.
When I look back on the times that I've seen God at work in my life or in the lives of the people around me, I notice that it's never logic that brings heaven to earth, rather it's faith...
When I went to Cambodia, my team and I went out to the Red Light District and bought women out of the industry for the night. When I told people that's what we were going to be doing over there, a few people said, "won't you just be adding fuel to the fire?" Meaning, I'm feeding the industry by paying for the women. Logically, that sounds correct. So I asked God what he thought about it, and he told me, "Kirby, if you don't buy them, someone else will. Either they see me tonight, or they see satan."
Most people don't think its very wise for a little American girl like me to spend my life in the Red Light Districts around the globe... or in the strip clubs, or with the prostitutes... logically, they're probably right.
But if we had stuck with logic instead of acting in faith, we wouldn't have seen nearly one hundred girls experience the love of Jesus that night. We wouldn't have seen our sweet friend be delivered from the sex industry or fund her dream of going to school.
I think it's natural for our human brains to go directly to what "could" happen. We like to think we should weigh all of our options before we make a move... we try to think things out, so we can attack the problem in the most logical and efficient way.
I can't help but believe that this is the wrong way to do it.
We might never fully understand why God calls us to do certain things, or take certain jobs or move to certain cites or even countries... we might never fully comprehend what God has up his sleeve. He doesn't ask us to understand. He asks us to walk by faith, and not by sight. He asks us to listen to him and obey him. In my bible study about James, I read this section written by Beth Moore. She is saying this is what James might have been thinking when he finds out that Peter has been set free from his imprisonment after Jesus assends into heaven...
"Jesus said not to fear those who can only kill the body. Think past the pain. We may be captured, but we may be rescued. We may see horrors, but we may see wonders. We may lose our heads, but we cannot lose our souls. The stakes are up. The fire is lit. It's time to live like those who cannot die."
We may see horrors, but we may see wonders... this is the life of a Christ follower. I dare you to lay down your logic. I promise that your life will explode into magnificent color and excitement if you choose the path of faith rather than logic. It will be a challenge, and it will be process... but when we walk by faith, we obey. And when we obey, God wins.
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