That Fox

Luke 4:12-13 – And Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. (ESV)

Anakin Nibbles, our guinea pig, was out in the garden again today. It was one of the warmer days of early spring, so I thought that he could do with the exercise. So, I put his house down on some new grass, and with him inside, moved his protective run to this new part of the lawn, and pegged it down.

As I looked over my neighbour's picket fence, I noticed "The Fox" curled up watching me as he sunbathed and groomed himself in the corner of the garden. We exchanged glances. I returned indoors to do some chores, and the fox moved out from the corner of next door's lawn, and stretched and yawned himself in the middle of the grass, seemingly confident that I was no longer going to challenge him.

Later, I thought that I would sneak a bit closer to the fence to see him close up and thus shake his confidence a little. As long as there were no sudden movements, he was okay with me talking to him. As I had hoped, it was enough to make him feel uneasy, so he decided enough was enough, and moved off into the garden on the far side of my neighbour's lawn.

I know that the fox will be back sooner or later, looking for opportunities, but hopefully, as I am vigilant, he will be looking on from a distance.

I want to be just as vigilant for my own life. Those forces that seek to make a meal of me hide in view on the margins of my life, just waiting for me to slip up. They wait for me to take a wrong turn, and inadvertently, or maybe even deliberately, let them in under the wire by becoming detached from God's purposes for my life.

Praise God that Jesus' grace is sufficient to cover my failings, as I call out for forgiveness and wisdom, and lay them down before Him.

I believe that Jesus broods over me, and over all those who bow the knee before His throne, to keep us in His tender care.

Psalm 91:14-16 – Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. (ESV)

Prayer: Lord, we rejoice that You have come to set us free from our sins, as we bow the knee to You. We are truly sorry for all our failings, and today, we ask that You would brood over us to show us the way in which we should follow You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.