Yes, we are at war.
Dare 2 Share - When you hear of wars and uprisings, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history and no sign of the end." (Luke 21:9)
Do you remember the story of Chicken Little? If it has been awhile since you heard this telling tale before you were tucked in, let me give you a brief rundown.
So there’s this bird named Chicken Little, and one day an acorn falls on her head. She is then convinced that the sky itself is falling, so in a panicked rush she alarms a number of her friends (Henny Penny, Ducky Lucky, etc.) and converts them into ‘sky falling’ doomsters. They are all on there way to tell the King about the whole deal, when they meet up with Foxy Loxy. For those of you playing along, you are probably aware that foxes don’t exactly qualify as vegetarians- thus he sees a nice chance to get a nice meal with leftovers to boot. So he volunteers to “show” the foolish fowls where the King resides. But just kidding! He actually leads them to his cave where he apparently enjoys a bird banquet.
Moral? Well, there’s quite a few here. I guess the main one would be “don’t be a moron”, but there is another relative application given the current world situation.
Yes, we are at war. Yes, it is terrible and awful when these things happen- but take care not to think that the ‘sky is falling’. So what does a Chicken Little look like?
-Constant worry over the world situation
-Constant attention to the media coverage of the war- to the neglect of everyday responsibilities (like loving your neighbor and spending time in God’s word)
-Constant and needless disputes with people over the “rightness” or “wrongness” of the war (when you could have been praying for peace!)
Remember as well that there is a real “foxy loxy” out there who is looking to eat your lunch. His name is Satan, and he would love to get you distressed and distracted from the task at hand: Operation Sinner Freedom. As long as we are glued to the tube and wringing our hands in worry, we won’t be very effective in sharing the gospel with our friends and family.
Jesus had a message for Chicken Little over 2000 years ago: “When you hear of wars and uprisings, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history and no sign of the end." (Luke 21:9)
Catch that? “Routine history” says the One who holds “everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels--everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment.” (Colossians 1:15-17)
So if you feel like a little acorn just dropped on your head- remember a little acronym that has helped me many times over:
G (God)
I (is)
I (in)
C (control)
Simple? Yep…but also true- and maybe just the reminder you need so that you don’t end up in the cave with foxy loxy.
Questions:
1) How worried are you about the war?
2) What has changed for the worse since this started? For the better?
3) What is one way you can work the “G.I.I.C.” into your life?
Memory Verse:
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isa. 41:10)
