Christian Living

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Soren Kierkegaard told the story of how some domestic geese looked up at some wild geese while they were looking down at them. Both wondered what the other was doing and what it would be like to be in each others place. His main concern back then (1700's) was that the church had become so domesticated that it had lost touch with its true calling.

Consider these comparisons and then do the study at the end.

Wild Geese

1 Wild geese work together because their survival depends on it.
2 Wild geese have to deal with many external challenges.
3 Wild geese have to trust God and each other as they face the challenges of each day.
4 Wild geese are free to move around and go where they want to.
5 Wild geese rely on their experiences, gifts and instincts to survive.
6 Wild geese have to live out of who/what they were created to be.
7 Wild geese are vulnerable to the dangers and uncertainties of life in the wild.
8 Wild geese have to be team players.
9 Wild geese who do their own thing get left behind.
10 Wild geese tend not to live as long as domestic geese.
11 Wild geese demonstrate the life of faith in a fallen world.
12 Wild geese know what it means to be geese.
13 Wild geese conform to God’s ways.

Domesticated Geese

1 Domestic geese develop a pecking order and compete for the farmer’s attention.
2 Domestic geese are protected from many of the external challenges.
3 Domestic geese have to trust the farmer to provide for their needs each day.
4 Domestic geese must live on the farmer’s property and according to his schedule.
5 Domestic geese grow fat and lazy because the farmer looks after everything.
6 Domestic geese are controlled by the farmer and fulfil his purposes.
7 Domestic geese could be sent to the chopping block at anytime.
8 Domestic geese don’t have anywhere to go.
9 Domestic geese live longer but for what.
10 Domestic geese are marking time until their time is up.
11 Domestic geese demonstrate that he who tries to save his life will lose it.
12 Domestic geese lose their identity for the sake of greater safety and certainty.
13 Domestic geese conform to man’s ways.


WILD,UNFETTERED AND FREE

The world thinks God is a party-pooper who wants to limit and restrict our life – which is certainly true if you are talking about sin, but not if you are talking about joy and purpose. In fact, it is when we submit to the plans and purposes of God for our life that we will actually discover the life we were made for – a life that He wants us to live forever.

Jesus said,
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.” John 10:10

“For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.” Matthew 16:25

1. Finding my true self

Wild geese know what it means to be geese, whereas domestic geese can only look up and wonder. Ephesians 2:1-10


2. Finding my place.

Wild geese must work as a team to survive, whereas domestic geese compete for the farmers, food and attention. 1 Corinthians 12


3. Using my gifts

Wild geese must draw on their gifts and experiences everyday, whereas domestic geese just grow fat and walk around in circles. . 1 Corinthians 12


4. Living by faith

Wild geese explore the world and embrace change, whereas domestic geese embrace the mundane and the familiar. Hebrews 11


5. Walking with God.

Wild geese see life as an adventure, whereas domestic geese become dependent on personal peace and affluence. Hebrew 11


Domestic geese look up at the wild geese and wonder if there is more to life than the farm Wild geese look down and wonder why those geese seem to be going nowhere.

QUESTIONS

In the context of the message behind this study, are you a wild geese or have you been overly domesticated? What areas of your life stand out as in need of some change?

While the emphasis in this study has favored the wild geese over the domesticated geese, there are some positives to the domestic life that should be retained, and some negatives to the wild life that could be avoided. Have a discussion about what they might be.

Mark Trodd
[email protected]

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