CALL OF THE WILD
Some would call our Lord, Jesus Christ, "wild." One definition of wild is "unconventional, exciting, and slightly irrational." Sounds like the God we serve, doesn't it? The things God asked His Biblical Prophets to do were very irrational to our seemingly sensible minds.
God asked Ezekiel to eat a scroll , a book which would represent eating the Word of God, and to then go to deliver a message to Israel. He also asked him to lie on his left side for 390 days and on his right side for 40 more days to represent the number of years Israel and Judah would be punished. Ezekiel was also asked to preach to a valley of dry bones so that they would live. Jeremiah was asked to construct a yolk with straps to wear around his neck to represent the yolk of bondage around the neck of Israel. Then, there was Isaiah, whom he told to walk around naked for three years, which signified the terrible troubles He would bring upon Egypt and Ethiopia. His Prophets had to have a "wild" side to yield to such "irrational" demands. But then, true Prophets always seem to think like the God who anointed them.
God loves the so-called fearless untouchables of this life, because when they are converted, that "wild" streak is used for God. Their natures have been changed, but the driving force of their DNA is still there. That hate and greed is now love and benevolence to those they had used and exploited. That wanderlust and loose morality of the "biker" is now a saved, biking, traveling Word-focused missionary.
God asked Ezekiel to eat a scroll , a book which would represent eating the Word of God, and to then go to deliver a message to Israel. He also asked him to lie on his left side for 390 days and on his right side for 40 more days to represent the number of years Israel and Judah would be punished. Ezekiel was also asked to preach to a valley of dry bones so that they would live. Jeremiah was asked to construct a yolk with straps to wear around his neck to represent the yolk of bondage around the neck of Israel. Then, there was Isaiah, whom he told to walk around naked for three years, which signified the terrible troubles He would bring upon Egypt and Ethiopia. His Prophets had to have a "wild" side to yield to such "irrational" demands. But then, true Prophets always seem to think like the God who anointed them.
God loves the so-called fearless untouchables of this life, because when they are converted, that "wild" streak is used for God. Their natures have been changed, but the driving force of their DNA is still there. That hate and greed is now love and benevolence to those they had used and exploited. That wanderlust and loose morality of the "biker" is now a saved, biking, traveling Word-focused missionary.
What does God require of us, but to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly before Him, but He searches for some who will seek His face, obey His Will, and step out without knowing where the foot will land. That's tough. Faith really is "wild!" Dip seven times in a muddy, sickening swamp-like river and you will be healed! Bake your last cake for the Prophet and you will live! Cast your net on the other side, sing while you're in prison, go to a street called Straight, wait in the Upper Room until you be endued from on high, step into the stream when the Angel troubles the waters, climb a tree blind man and wait till the Master goes by, tear off the roof and lower him down on a stretcher, and so goes faith, on and on and on.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. He loves your uniqueness; He loves your spontaneity; He loves your interests and special talents; He loves your desire for the ocean, the forest, the archeology pits, the foreign lands, the science lab; He loves everything about you; He loves you!
Over the years, some have said they do not want to come to Jesus, because they fear He would change them. And, He would, but that very special "you" He will not change. He created you different than anyone else in the world and He is very happy about that. So, that very unique person that you are has a marked slot in His kingdom with your name on it. The things you "do and are" can be exciting; there are times you may seem slightly irrational in doing the work of the Lord; and there are ideas you may have that are unconventional, but more than likely you fit right in with God's own qualities, and you could be ripe for a little something that the Lord might refer to as the "Call of the Wild."
By Sheryl Fowler
(Visit promiselandchurch.net. PromiseLand Church, Austin, Tx)
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