JANUARY 16, 2013
Upside
Down
Read: Isaiah
55:6-13
My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways.
—Isaiah 55:8
There
are a lot of things that intrigue me about Jesus. One of the aspects
of His
ministry that has always produced jaw-dropping, head-scratching
responses is
His upside-down teaching about life.
As
we journey through life, we may get to the point where we think we’ve
got it
figured out and our thought patterns and responses for navigating
through life
are deeply engrained. Yet Jesus interrupts us in the midst of
our routines and
calls us to a new and better way. But beware! This
encounter with the ways of
Jesus will be challenging.
Consider
these paradoxical propositions: to live you must die (Mark 8:35);
to gain you
must give (Matt. 19:21); “blessed are those who mourn” (5:4);
to rule you must
serve (Luke 22:26); and suffering has purpose (5:10-11).
It
is pronouncements like these that make people think Christ is strangely
out of
touch. But we are the ones out of touch. He is not upside down, we
are! We’re
like children who think they know better than their parents what
is best.
No
wonder God has told us, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are
your ways
My ways” (Isa. 55:8). So, rather than relying on our mixed-up
instincts, let’s
ask Him to help us reflect His ways.
Lord, You know what is best, and You desire to lead
us in paths that are right and good. Give us the
courage to trust and to follow You in the ways
of righteousness for Your name’s sake. Amen.
What may seem upside down to us is right side up to God.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
