Daredevils

I have been noticing something lately.

Honestly, I've noticed it before, but lately it has fascinated me more than usual.

I'll call them daredevil birds.

You've seen them.

They come swooping dangerously into your path as you're driving along, only to suddenly change direction and swoop the other way.

Sometimes when there are two birds - one makes it across and the other does the sudden switch-back - I've wondered...

Did they plan that?

Did bird one say to bird two, "Hey! Betcha can't make it across the road without getting hit!"

Bird two says, "Let's find out!"

And off they go.

In truth, birds cannot reason. God created only man with reasoning capabilities.

But I do have to wonder what it is within those birds that causes them to want to "play".

If it's true that all of creation worships the King - are they worshiping with their play?

Perhaps I'll never know exactly what the birds are "thinking" as they dart dangerously in front of my car. But I plan to continue to enjoy their "game".

What Does the Lord Require?

God has shown you men and women what is good and excellent; and what does the Lord require of you? He desires you to make just decisions in regard to others; to love goodness, kindness, and faithfulness. And in your going and coming, He wants you to walk in humility with Him. Micah 6:8 – personal interpretation




That is my rendition of this verse.



In times when one is pressed by the Lord to make leadership decisions that involve the lives of others, it is wise to remember humility.




Galatians 6:1-5


Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are filled with and governed by the Spirit of God should mend what has been broken in him gently.

But watch yourself, or you also may be tried and tested in your faith, virtue, and character, by enticement to sin.

Carry each other’s heaviness, weight, burden, or trouble, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (This law states that we are to love one another as Christ has loved us.)

These first three thoughts are unified in that we are dealing with one subject – the temptation to sin that we all face, and our responses to that temptation. If we truly love one another, we will pray for and exhort one another because we should have a strong desire not to see a brother or sister caught in sin.
When we are responding in humility to one another; when we are watching one another’s lives in a way that says, “I love you. I don’t want to see you tripped up by sin in your life,” we are being an example to the world of the love of Jesus Christ.



Our purpose here is two-fold. One, out of love for our brothers and sisters, we want to stand with them in times of temptation and trial. And two, we are evangelizing the lost. Have you considered that when we love one another properly, we are actually engaging in evangelism? Jesus made it clear when he told his disciples that the world would know His love by our love for one another.

The second part of this portion of scripture speaks to us keeping watch over our own souls.

If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test (to examine to see whether the thing is genuine or not) his own actions.
Then he can take pride in his own work (that which occupies his effort and time), without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load (or be responsible for the work of his own hands.)

We are to be aware of one another – to remember to encourage, exhort, and love our brothers and sisters. We are also to keep watch over our own lives. We need to watch our attitudes, our responses, our actions, our work (the things that we spend our time on). We will give an account to the Lord for all of these. Are we pleasing God in what we commit ourselves to? This thought ties back into the first portion of our scripture when we are told to watch ourselves.
In being aware of our own lives, we should be brought into an attitude of humility.
I believe we will also notice the fear of the Lord governing our lives.




May the Lord allow us to walk humbly and in the fear of the Lord as He brings us into a season of greater grace!