The Importance of Removing the Obstacles

Colorado Springs, Colorado

People who know me would probably say that I'm a little off my rocker. One of my favorite movies is Dumber and Dumber, I put money into repairing cars instead of buying newer ones, and I like Royal Crown Cola more than Pepsi or Coke.

So, it shouldn't surprise you, then, that I like freshly shoveled driveways and sidewalks. To be more accurate, I enjoy the snowbanks that are created as a result of snow removal.  

Yet, there is a practical side to all this work of shoveling snow: it makes it easier to walk and drive. The snow is an obstacle that is best removed for everyone's safety.

"If you support others who preach to you, shouldn't we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ." 1 Corinthians 9:12 New Living Translation

Paul didn't want anything to be an obstacle to someone understanding the mercy of God in his Son, Jesus Christ, even if he were that obstacle. He refused to be paid for telling others about Jesus even though he had right to be supported financially.

Maybe the biggest obstacle we erect which keeps people from seeing Jesus is our demand for our rights to be honored.

I have the right to be happy. I have the right to say what I want to say. I have the right to..., well, you finish the sentence.

It takes courage and faith to say that I'm choosing not to use my rights so that I don't put an obstacle in the way of people knowing Jesus.

Paul had such courage and faith. May God gift us with the same courage and faith that we too might remove any obstacle to someone seeing Jesus in us.

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Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2015 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR.