2 Chronicles 30:8-9 – Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever, and serve the Lord your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you. For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him. (ESV)
The other day I had a cold, so I made my way around the town's one-way system in the car, and as usual, the traffic was congested and slow-moving. In front of the car ahead of me, waiting at the traffic lights, was a pigeon strutting his stuff in the road, apparently without a care in the world. A casual observer might have surmised that this was some kind of kryptonite-powered super-pigeon impervious to the intimidation of a large car bearing down on him.
I gathered that the driver was unaware of the cock just out of sight, ahead of his front nearside wheel. The pigeon continued to strut, indifferent to this large rubber and metallic object creeping ever closer. Just at the very, very last moment, the pigeon conceded defeat and jumped, flapped, and twisted in mid-air to move out of the path of the car's looming wheel. When the pigeon realised the game was up, he appeared to be less than an inch from the tyre!
To me, this was too close a call for the pigeon to continue with such a kamikaze-like bravado, without becoming maimed or squished in the near future!
Are we strutting our stuff today, going our own way — or are we asking for God's grace?
Matthew 7:8-11 – For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (ESV)
Just a thought!
Prayer: Lord, we are here again, brazen and a little foolish. Please forgive us our failings and our inaction where we have continued on our merry way — oblivious to our own peril. Enable us to recognise where we are walking today, and help us to hear Your voice, as Your Holy Spirit whispers life and guidance into our lives once more. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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