In Defense of Renegades

Scripture Verses: 1 Kings 20:11 The king of Israel answered, “Tell him: One who puts on armor should not brag like one who takes it off.”

Observation: Wisdom sometimes comes from strange corners. King Ahab was not a good king. He was not favored by God. But he still makes a good point.

Application: I’ve always been struck by how disarmingly astute some people are, especially those who are rather renegade in their nature. Some time ago there was a person I know who was “successful” in the earthly sense and was telling of his love of sailing catamarans. Another person, a classmate from years gone by and definitely a renegade type, was unimpressed. He put down his 3rd or 4th beer and quipped, “Catamaran, Catamaran…it’s just two canoes tied together for crying out loud!”

We had to admit, he had a point. Perhaps that’s why Jesus told a few stories that lifted up the shrewdness of the dishonest manager, the responsiveness of the unrighteous judge, the wisdom of serpents and even the children of ‘this age.’ It would seem that just about everyone has something to offer, even renegades like Ahab and, one can surely assume, other sinners like you and me.

Prayer: Lord, thanks for the ways in which you can use all of us in your world, whether we are particularly faithful or not. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(readings today included: 1 Kings 20-21, 2 Chronicles 17, Colossians 3)