Uncommon Sense

MORNING WITH BEVERLY: Thursday 11-09-2017

Common or Uncommon

A realty company describes its vacation rental locations as the “Uncommon Florida.”  A personal favorite vacation spot, I understand and agree with this: untouched and protected dunes, sea oats, sea turtle nests and limited commercialization.  Second Kings, Chapter 7 tells of four hungry lepers at Samaria’s city gate doing nothing except accepting life's fate for themselves. They began to say and consider among themselves, “why are we sitting here until we die?”  With death imminent, they began to consider their choices: death by disease or famine versus looking for food.  Christians should be characterized by both senses – common and uncommon.  One without the other is foolish: uncommon sense alone – faith – can disconnect us from life's reality while common sense alone can blind us to God at work.  We know God is always at work in our lives, working all things "together for good to them that love God." (Romans 8:28). Another danger of common sense by itself can lead us to be so practical in our approach to life that we explain away life experiences rather than exercise faith in God’s sovereign control.  Just recently I experienced a hiccup with regard to the date of my coming retirement.  The reality of it brought disappointment and self-pity to my doorstep but the belief in my Sovereign God chased away every spiritual threat.  You see, as long as we live in this world, we engage common sense but never dismiss uncommon sense -- faith -- in God’s Presence, Power, Portion and Protection.  He works in the common to bring rightful glory to Himself through the uncommon.  As uncommon as it may seem, faith is real and it is central to the life of the Believer; it is the "substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1).  We can all agree that to disregard common sense is foolish and even dangerous, but never take a breath without the uncommon sense of God's Presence in your life.  Have faith in God!