A Life in Exile

I’ve always seen myself as a common-sense kind of person. Not a touchy-feely type, I think through things and react after analysis. Obviously, the way I deal with the world is affected by my parents and the society in which I was raised. Americans in general are known as common-sense pragmatists.

So, when something so natural comes in contact with the life-changing effect of trust in Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior, is our common sense simply anointed by the Holy Spirit or thrown out the window? Does God not expect us to use our brains, even as we seek to do his will?

God hears our prayers.

I was thankful for the verse shared by Oswald Chambers in touching on this issue, as it gave me comfort. Jesus is standing before the tomb of his friend, Lazarus.

“Father, I thank you that you heard me.” (John 11:41 CSB)

He begins with this statement and then proceeds to share the motivation for what he will do next: “so that they may believe you sent me.” To my ears, that sounds like a very sound request. Jesus wants those who have doubts to be fully confident that he is who he claims to be and to put their trust in him. However, the next thing he does blows common sense out of the water—he calls his friend from the tomb!

God heard and answered.

Common sense.

The common-sense thing to do that day would have been to comfort Mary and Martha. Jesus could have easily spoken about the resurrection to come and the hope that he provides, but that was not his plan. Sometimes, we let common sense get in the way of God’s plan in our own lives. Look at what Chambers says:

Never let common sense obtrude and push the Son of God on one side. Common sense is a gift which God gave to human nature; but common sense is not the gift of His Son. (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest)

I can make list after list of the positive and negative of any number of decisions. I can count the costs, financially and relationally. God is not asking us to throw away our common sense. It’s a part of us, but he is asking that we bring it under submission to him instead of letting it be the be-all-end-all of our decision-making process.

Supernatural sense.

What is the Holy Spirit saying to me in this moment? Chambers continues:

Supernatural sense is the gift of His Son; never enthrone common sense. The Son detects the Father; common sense never yet detected the Father and never will.

As I reflect on those revealed to us in Scripture, I cannot help but see this supernatural sense take precedence:

• Noah: It wasn’t common sense that led him to build an ark on dry land.
• Moses: It wasn’t common sense to lead the people to the dead end of the sea.
• Joshua and Caleb: It wasn’t common sense that said they could conquer a land when everyone else was against it.
• Daniel: It wasn’t common sense to go back to his room and pray after the order against praying to any god but the king.
• Jesus: It wasn’t common sense to set his face toward Jerusalem.

The list goes on. I’m sure you can name others who swam against the tide of public opinion and common-sense solutions to obey God.

Subjecting our common sense to Christ.

What happens when a person relies on the supernatural sense of the Spirit over the common sense known to man? Think about those listed. They were laughed at, rebuked, rejected, outnumbered, lost the vote, put into a lion’s den, and crucified. Doesn’t sound like supernatural sense really pays off, does it?

Yet, look at them again. What was achieved as they stood their ground in faith? Noah saved his family and the animals from the flood. Moses led the people to the other side of the sea, as the waters parted. Joshua and Caleb survived the forty years in the wilderness to lead the people into the Promised Land and defeat their enemies. Daniel survived his night with the lions and was raised to play an important roll in the kingdom of Persia and with God’s people. Jesus took our sins to the cross and opened the way of salvation for all mankind.

You may not be asked to build an ark or part the waters, but God may be asking you to put your common-sense response to a problem to the side, knowing that if you follow your supernatural sense, led by his Spirit, he will draw others to himself through you. Are you grateful the Lord hears your prayers? Are you willing to let him answer those prayers in ways that throw common-sense to the wind?

Lord, help us to be willing vessels for supernatural purposes.

Grace and Peace

If you missed the last Wednesday Wisdom, click HERE, or check out these other posts on the God’s way: Passing the Test,  Gems from Genesis: Chapter 22, Resolve, and Engaged in Battle.

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