Editor's Note: We're pleased to bring you Pastor's Perspective, with the Rev. Richard Helms of Miracle Acres Missions. Helms' inspirational column will appear in each Midweek Edition.
In the Bible, there is a story of a dialogue between a man called Balaam and his donkey.
This story, found in Numbers Chapter 22, brings up some interesting points.
Allow me to open this story with a differing point of view: Let's not concentrate so much on what Balaam and the donkey talked about, but rather take it from the point of view of Balaam's servants.
First, imagine the hilarity of observing their master trying to direct this animal down a path, and he is not doing so well — and then he gets angry and threatens to kill the donkey.
Finally, the donkey speaks!
While Balaam, in his anger, seems to take this in stride, the first response I would have had was probably to pass out right on the spot! A donkey, speaking?
As the story plays out, an angel is revealed and a prophet, or seer, is corrected by the Lord God through the use of that lowly donkey.
Can you just picture the confusion in the servants' eyes, listening to the donkey speak so directly to their master? Perhaps they were wondering, "Which is the donkey, and which is the prophet?"
Our lives can also take this track, and we can find ourselves in situations where God must set us back on His path instead of our own.
We may walk around, claiming to be a Christian, and yet our lives are filled with language and actions that do not display the love of Jesus.
Looking around at the beauty of God's creation, we may look at our lives and wonder, "Are we really children of the King, or are we just a donkey?"
Guard your testimony. Don't add to the confusion. Be the one who leads others down the right path.
When you stand before Him on that judgment day, can you be sure he used you to win others?
Or perhaps, He had to send a donkey!
May God bless you.
Pastor Richard Helms serves at Miracle Acres Missions, 3187 E. James Lee Blvd., in Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: PASTOR'S PERSPECTIVE: A prophet or a donkey?