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Listen while you read: "Give To Our God Immortal Praise"1
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Ephesians 5:8 – You used to be like people living in the dark, but now you are people of the light because you belong to the Lord. So act like people of the light. (CEV)
3 John 1:4 – Nothing brings me greater happiness than to hear that my children are obeying the truth. (CEV)
We had chickadees nesting at the side of our home, making use of a nesting box in a small stand of evergreens, protected from attack and the elements. It was delightful to hear and watch their comings and goings during nest-building and egg-hatching. Then the day came when they were bringing food to the fledglings. I greatly anticipated the day when the little ones would be seen and heard. However, sad to say, we never saw them. They may have already "flown the coop", but my sadness causes me to think that perhaps they died, because there seems to be no activity now. I really have no idea, because I cannot go near or touch the nest, just in case it is still in use. It seems that I might have to forego the joy of watching little ones emerge and mature.
It is so true that those who are born again into God's family are like fledglings, and childlikeness is a prerequisite:
Mark 10:15 – I promise you that you cannot get into God's kingdom, unless you accept it the way a child does. (CEV)
Matthew 18:3 – Then he said: I promise you this. If you don't change and become like a child, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. (CEV)
Like me, in great anticipation and joy, God must watch us come into His "nest", eager to feed upon His Word. He must be so sad when any of His "little ones" fail in their growth and maturity. Perhaps they choose to return to a lifestyle that excludes Him, or one that permits them to assume that they are on the right track, only to move further and further away from Him, until one day they're gone, and they no longer have fellowship with Him. How sad He must feel to watch them with such great anticipation, hoping to see them grow and become His chosen ones, only to lose some to a life without Him.
To avoid ourselves falling away from a relationship with God, we need to watch out for and guard against any developing bitterness against God or disappointment with other Christians' behaviour. When someone has strayed we need to pray for them, and continue to love them and reach out to them.
Prayer: Father God, we ask and pray that we always have the strength and commitment needed to stay close to You and always to choose to stay in the shadow of Your wings and Your protection. In Jesus' mighty name, we pray. Amen.
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About the author:
Patricia Day <patday174@gmail.com>
Barrie, Ontario, Canada
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