The Defiant LifeSample

Defy Protocol

There will come a time when we must defy protocol. Just because things are done a certain way does not mean this is how we ought to continue doing things. Society and culture have many protocols that have become the norm in how we live our lives. But anything that contradicts God’s word and kingdom culture is worth defying. It may make us unpopular and the subject of ridicule and persecution, but we must stand our ground and uphold the foundations of our faith.

Throughout the Bible, we read stories of men and women who defied protocols and went on to do great things. In the time of King Xerses, Queen Esther’s people were facing annihilation throughout the Persian kingdom. In an unforgettable act of selfless courage, Queen Esther defied protocol to have an audience with the king. In those times, if the king did not summon the queen, she could not be seen by the king. If the queen approached without being summoned, and the king did not hold out his scepter to permit her to draw near, it would mean instant death. Faced with the probability of death, Queen Esther came before God first, and in humility, she prayed for her people’s lives. She then went before the king of Persia un-summoned, and miraculously the king held out his scepter to her. The queen’s act of defying protocol was able to save her people, and until this day, she is honored in the Jewish culture during the festival of Purim. Had Esther obeyed protocol, she would have watched as her people were brutally murdered.

David defied battle protocol by not wearing the conventional armor that soldiers wore to battle when he faced off against Goliath. Instead, he went into battle with his everyday clothes and a slingshot as the weapon of choice even after he had been offered the King of Israel’s armor to wear. What a spectacle that would have been to those watching because he was underdressed for battle. Even Goliath was insulted at the sight of David because, as a mighty warrior, he would have wanted to fight someone of his own caliber. But David had no regard for battle odds or protocols. His way of fighting relied more on God’s help instead of traditional battle strategies. The outcome of this battle thrust David from obscurity and placed him among the brave men of war. This story reminds us that God shows up when we defy protocol by putting our confidence in God alone. After all, God’s ways are higher than our own ways.