

Non-negotiables
Basics to live by
Besides the personalized nudges God gives us at specific moments, there are non-negotiables that apply equally and always to all members of God's campaign to heal, bless, and connect the world. God expects us all to trust him enough to let him lead, and he expects us to obey his directives with or without getting an explanation from him.
As we use the "Honor Verses" or the Daily Bible Reading List for Honor Season, it is always good to be looking for the non-negotiables, the things God is telling us to obey. And when we do not know all the reasons, it is best to give God the benefit of the doubt.
Otherwise we may repeat that first sin of Adam and Eve. They were given a command, told what the penalty would be for breaking it, but not told everything about the rationale for it. Under those circumstances, they doubted the goodness of God's motives for the command, and they chose not to obey it. Let's learn from history--obey God first and ask questions later.
However, God does expect us to use the brains he gave us. That's why it is so important to SYNC (see ourselves in Christ). If we see ourselves properly as members of his campaign team and part of his campaign strategy, we won't have to be taught a lot of other things. They will be obvious.
For example, if we see ourselves as honorable finishers, carrying our cross as Christ carried his, we will care about people who are not loyal to anything but are looking for someone who will be loyal to them. They are on a dead-end search, and it is really frustrating. We can show them what we have found--loyalty to Christ opens up a whole new kind of life.
Bottom line: being in SYNC with Christ is the one non-negotiable above all the others. We have zero tolerance for anything that gets us out of SYNC with him.
FAQs on non-negotiables and obedience
1. Don't non-negotiables mean bigotry? Isn't it better to be open-minded?