Insight for Today
A Daily Devotional by Pastor Chuck Swindoll

The Case against Vanilla

(?)

I CANNOT IMAGINE ANYTHING more boring and less desirable than being poured into the mold of predictability. Few things interest me less than the routine, the expected, the status quo. A fresh run at life by an untried route will get my vote every time. Stay open-minded for a moment, and I’ll try to show you why.

The late, great John Gardner once pointed out that by their mid-thirties, most people have stopped acquiring new skills and new attitudes in any aspect of their lives. Does that jolt you? Stop and think, you who are over thirty. How long has it been since you acquired a new skill? How many brand-new attitudes have you adopted—personal, political, social, spiritual, financial—since you turned thirty?

The psalmist encouraged people to use their talents of voice and instrument to write new songs of praise to God:

Let the godly sing for joy to the LORD;

it is fitting for the pure to praise him.

Praise the LORD with melodies on the lyre;

make music for him on the ten-stringed harp.

Sing a new song of praise to him;

play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.

PSALM 33:1–3

I love Jesus’ radical statement:

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

JOHN 10:10

Left to routine, you’ll easily and imperceptibly fall prey to the “thief’s” chief aim: to rob you of your best and most productive years. You’ll settle for the cellar, hiding in the dark moldy basement of security and predictability. Why not come out into the light of abundant living? Pursue the way of Jesus. Accept His approach and live your life with abandon. Don’t be afraid of a few risks. Turn your back on those attitudes and stubborn patterns that prevent you from living a full life.

Come on out of there . . . you could use some sun!