When to Stick Your Neck Out
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13
Getting your head chopped off does not feel good. We have all had times when we stuck our necks out only to find that there was someone hiding in the shadows with a very sharp hatchet. Our hearts were broken, and we cried in emotional pain. Having thought it was safe to step out and share our ideas or comments, we made a statement(s) that brought heated, angry, and hateful words.
Like this turkey, today it was safe because there were no hopeful hunters to bag the bird as it stuck its head out from its hiding place. On another day, things could have played out quite differently.
We all have our own thoughts, ideas, and comments. So, how do we know when to stick our necks out and voice them? In our culture today, we can easily become a target. Of course, if we just blurt out opinions without filters, we might become one of those bagged birds.
When the Bible tells us to stand firm in the faith, it means exactly that! There are so many verses (especially in Proverbs) that tell us to be careful with our words. That skill needs constant attention. More importantly, we must continuously walk with the Holy Spirit. When we want to react and respond to things that are happening around us, sometimes our Counselor gives us that little tweak in our bellies saying, “Don’t say a word!” as pain prevention.
What about the times when we are called to act like men (and women) of God and be strong? Do we stick our necks out willingly and let the chips fall where they will? This is a hard one because we don’t like conflict. It is more comfortable when we don’t rock the boat. Life should be rather even-keeled, right?
Being a believer and walking in step with the Holy Spirit is full of interesting adventures and challenging situations. They just sort of pop up unannounced. However, if we love Jesus and are being led by the Holy Spirit, nothing is too overwhelming for us. We can stick our neck out knowing that we will be protected and survive.
Gobble! Gobble!
Loving Lord, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Help us to listen and respond appropriately to His direction. Show us how to be strong and stand firm in our faith. AMEN.