Not Safe
Keeping up with my kids’ homework is challenging! Smart phones are such a blessing when it comes to homework issues. If my son doesn’t have his spelling list, I can send out a group text to a few other parents. Minutes later I usually have a photo of the spelling list. We help each other out. This is definitely important as we get to the stage where we can no longer help our kids when they have homework questions. This stage doesn’t come in high school. Oh no! I’ve found it comes much earlier than that. Try 5th grade.
The other day I got a group text concerning a homework question over “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis. The question swallowed me into a rabbit hole adventure of paradoxes. Here’s the question, “The beavers say that Aslan is not safe, but he is good. What do you think that means?”
In the book (and movie) Aslan is a lion. His character is a representation of God. Therefore, the question essentially is, “God is not safe, but He is good. What does that mean?” Here is what I texted in reply:
“Aslan is not safe. He is a wild animal; untamed. He cannot be controlled. You will not be the one in control, He will be. However, He is good. You do not need to be concerned about your well-being. He should be reverently feared, but you do not need to be in fear of harm.”
Our God is great and powerful. He cannot be tamed, trained, or overpowered. God will call us to do things that are out of our comfort zone (The Relentless Nudge). These things may seem odd or intimidating, but they are means by which He reaches others while stretching us to become more. It is not safe. It’s uncomfortable. It’s living dangerously in the safety of faith. God supplies what we need when we take that seemingly precarious step out in faith. It’s not easy, but it is rewarding.
If God calls you to give something up, it’s not a sacrifice. It’s an exchange. A pastor I once had would always say, “You’re trading up.” A great example of this is the little boy who gave up his meal to feed the 5,000. It’s the only miracle recorded in all 4 gospels, other than the resurrection.
You can’t tell me that this boy was the only one to bring food among 5,000 men, not to mention all the women and children there. Other people brought food, only the boy was willing to part with his. It’s so fitting that it was a child. Adults will rationalize and think logically. Giving over a bit of bread and fish to feed thousands doesn’t make sense. It takes child-like faith to give up what you know is not enough.
For a time, the boy’s gift certainly appeared to be a sacrifice. It wasn’t safe. He had nothing for a time. He handed his food over to the disciples who gave it to Jesus. He had no guarantee that he would get anything to eat. Then, what did Jesus do? Jesus gave thanks for what was clearly not enough. God transformed what was not enough into plenty. There was plenty for the thousands and there was plenty for the boy. The boy left that place with a full belly and a big God story. He exchanged a bit of bread and fish and received something much greater.
Dear one, do you realize, this story is us? We were not enough but He has made us enough; plentiful and complete. Give thanks for what appears to be not enough and watch God work. God calls us to give so that He can exchange it for more. It is not safe or comfortable. But we are not in control, our good God is! Following God is an adventure. Adventures do not take place in a recliner. Is God calling you into something new and scary? Remember, you never sacrifice, only trade up. Step into your very own big God story.
We’re doing something a bit different with our scripture passages this week. The first 2 are related to this week’s devotionals. The last four are examples of people living this out. Consider these questions as you read their stories:
– How was their call out of their comfort zone, against the norm?
– What did it appear they were sacrificing?
– How did it turn out to be a “trade up?”
– Did they leave with a big God story? If so, what was it?
Romans 11:33-12:2 – We can live out verse 1 because of verses 33-36 (and previous verses in Romans).
Matthew 16:21-27
Daniel 3:8-30
Acts 9:1-19
Genesis 12:1-5
Acts 10:9-48
Originally posted on September 9, 2019.
Heather, A great lesson that both challenges and encourages!
Thank you, Russ. Good to hear from you!
Funny that you should pull out that quote from LWW. The theme is present throughout the series and I love how CSL used Narnia as an uncomplicated (relatively) world to teach lessons through. Tame lions are controlled by people (mostly) using fear/food/environment. I love your answer to the question, it is exactly that.
That reminds me of the gods worshipped throughout time. People made sacrifices to appease the gods. The sacrifices were typically seen as food for the gods and given in exchange for good weather for good crops or to conquer enemies. People sought to appease or tame these false gods, manipulating to get what they wanted. That doesn’t work with the One True God! Thanks for contributing, Daniela!
“Not Safe” challenges me to heed the voice, or calling of God to become my divine purpose, not what the culture may be comfortable with.
I love that verb, “to become.” Yes, that is exactly what is at stake. It is a choice to step into our divine purpose (as uncomfortable as it may seem at the time) or continue in our own empty way. Our way may seem more “safe,” but it ultimately is not. Thanks for sharing, Russ!