By DANNY MINTON

Slower than a sleeping snail! More negative than an electron! Able to stall plans with a single doubt! Look! Over there! It’s a man! It’s a woman! It’s “Obstacle Man!” Yes, it’s “Obstacle Man!” Strange creature from within our number who comes to meetings with thoughts and ideas far more negative than sub-zero! “Obstacle Man!” Who can stunt the growth of a great idea! Stop optimism with his forceful, “It won’t work.” And who disguised as a sword-bearer, typical in many meetings of congregations of all sizes, fights a never-ending battle for negativism, problem causing and the static way.

DANNY MINTON

“Obstacle Man” is a hindrance to the growth of many great ideas. When a new idea is brought up, he automatically comes across with a list of reasons why it won’t work. For a congregation to grow, it must think positive. It must build up good ideas and make them work. When an obstacle comes into the picture, positive thinking causes one to figure a way around, over, under or through the problem. Don’t become one who harps on the negative! Don’t be the one who is always saying “It won’t work.” Don’t be labeled as the “It cost too much” critic. Don’t be the “We’ve never done that before” brakeman.

Instead be the one who says, “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.” Be the one who tells the crowd, “If God is for us who can be against us?” Be the one with the “faith of a grain of mustard seed.” Be the one who says, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!”

How many reasons do you think Jesus could have come up with for not coming to the little planet and going through the suffering of the cross? Personally. I’m glad He didn’t let these reasons stop Him.

Now, how about you?

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And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. Matthew 17:20

Danny Minton is Pastoral Minister and Elder at Southern Hills Church of Christ