Toward an Irrational Obedience

"Now you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac." (Galatians 4:28)

To be children of the promise we need to have irrational obedience towards God. We see this exemplified in the life of Abraham. In the promise, he was told to leave his home and go make a new one.

We have many teachings of Jesus that at times of our life seem irrational. Just looking at them through purely worldly logic, they still seem that way.

Who would give a percentage of their paycheck every week to a church instead of using that money on savings, investments, or personal entertainment? It is completely, worldly irrational.

Who would not eat meals and fast in order to show submission to God and dependence on Him? Who would treat non-biological brothers and sisters as real brothers and sisters? Who would not stand up for their own rights and turn the other cheek? Someone completely, worldly irrational.

Most everyone does what makes sense to them. For some, lying and manipulating, is rational. All sorts of wrong and destructive behavior is viewed as rational to the people who practice such behavior. It makes sense for them to commit sin in order to get their way, which to them is the right way.

For us, as followers of Jesus, we need to become the type of people where the irrational obedience becomes rational. For many areas of our life, it probably already has. As we mature in the faith we become more and more irrational according to the world, yet we become more and more what Jesus wants us to be. Our Christian journey should be a journey from a life lived by what is rational by the world's standards to a life lived by what is rational by God's standards. Becoming a follower of Jesus is making the decision to start viewing the world in the way that God sees the world and to start living in that new paradigm.

When given the Promise, Abraham was faced with a major decision. He could continue on his normal life and not go to the far off land he had never seen or he could grasp hold of the promise and begin with an irrational step of obedience. Those around him probably thought he was crazy. A wise preacher once said, “Your faith ought to get you in trouble at times. If everyone thinks you are nuts, you may be. It's okay if some think you are. You're probably in trouble if no one thinks you are.”