A bird has to move beyond it’s comfort zone in at least 2 ways in its life.
When a bird is first laid in its egg, it has all the provisions it needs. The place he is growing in is perfect to nurture and develop the young bird. It grows stronger and larger, until one day, he grows too large for his shell. And he cracks that shell open, little bit by little bit, to face a whole new world.
Once the new chick has hatched, he is still surrounded by things just right for him. He has parents there to provide food, and to teach him important things. He has warmth when surrounded by his family. He has safety in the center of his nest. He grow stronger and larger, until one day, it’s time for him to fly off on his own.
However, a strange phenomenon often happens when his time to leave the nest occurs. This young bird will stand at the edge of his nest. He will watch his parents fly off, and maybe flap his wings once or twice. But, most of the time, he will not step off into the vast unknown areas before him. In fact, most of the time, his parents have to push him right out of the nest into nothing but a free-fall before he gets the courage to fly! How’s that for parenting…
Now, I’m not usually a nature freak. I’ve tried bird watching, and I fall asleep, oh, about 100% of the time. So why am I talking to you about the habits of birds?
I was sitting on my couch praying; I was seeking the Lord for a number of things that I needed direction on. I opened my eyes and saw my mother’s bird cage with her small finch inside of it, and I felt a correlation line up between the habits of birds, and the habits of Christians.
God sets us up in the ideal situations for growth. When we are babies, He gives us the true milk of the Word- even tells us to desire it. He nurtures us through His Spirit, until we get to a point where we need to break out of our shell, and continue seeking Him actively. It may be scary at first, but when we get out of the shell, we realize that once again, God has placed us in a perfect place for where we are in Him. He surrounds us with brothers and sisters in Him, in church families, and continues to feed us. Sure, things may not be perfect. The storms may come and drench our nests; the enemy may slither up the tree unexpectedly. But God is still in control, and He meets all of our needs.
But the time comes when God asks us to leave our comfort zones. He calls us out of everything we may have known, or have been comfortable in. Whether that’s in a physical move, a new job setting, a different school selection, a new church body, or any other thing the Lord is laying on your heart- God is calling us to move. He wants us to fly out and discover the new things He has for us every day!
But, we stand at the edge and wait. We sit, we squawk. We make every excuse not to move. The Lord doesn’t want to have to push us out- He desires children that are strong in Him, and will to walk by faith, and not by sight.
I was sitting there again, and I began to think of what happens when a bird isn’t willing to move. In order for a bird to survive, he must first break out of his egg. Just to get the all important breaths he needs for simple life- he must first leave all that he knows. Otherwise, he suffocates from the inside out. And a bird needs to leave his nest to grow! To live on the inside, he needs to find what’s in store for him. Otherwise his nest becomes like a cage, and he becomes content to play with the little toys stuck inside, and to eat the processed foods to keep him alive. Yet he’s dead to all else.
And for a young believer, it’s much the same. One can be starved to death if all they are is content with the milk that God provided for them. They are meant to grow to eat the meat of His Word! And the become too content to sit through Sunday morning services, to pay $10 into the plate as it passes, and to go back to their everyday ordinary life.
When a bird is first laid in its egg, it has all the provisions it needs. The place he is growing in is perfect to nurture and develop the young bird. It grows stronger and larger, until one day, he grows too large for his shell. And he cracks that shell open, little bit by little bit, to face a whole new world.
Once the new chick has hatched, he is still surrounded by things just right for him. He has parents there to provide food, and to teach him important things. He has warmth when surrounded by his family. He has safety in the center of his nest. He grow stronger and larger, until one day, it’s time for him to fly off on his own.
However, a strange phenomenon often happens when his time to leave the nest occurs. This young bird will stand at the edge of his nest. He will watch his parents fly off, and maybe flap his wings once or twice. But, most of the time, he will not step off into the vast unknown areas before him. In fact, most of the time, his parents have to push him right out of the nest into nothing but a free-fall before he gets the courage to fly! How’s that for parenting…
Now, I’m not usually a nature freak. I’ve tried bird watching, and I fall asleep, oh, about 100% of the time. So why am I talking to you about the habits of birds?
I was sitting on my couch praying; I was seeking the Lord for a number of things that I needed direction on. I opened my eyes and saw my mother’s bird cage with her small finch inside of it, and I felt a correlation line up between the habits of birds, and the habits of Christians.
God sets us up in the ideal situations for growth. When we are babies, He gives us the true milk of the Word- even tells us to desire it. He nurtures us through His Spirit, until we get to a point where we need to break out of our shell, and continue seeking Him actively. It may be scary at first, but when we get out of the shell, we realize that once again, God has placed us in a perfect place for where we are in Him. He surrounds us with brothers and sisters in Him, in church families, and continues to feed us. Sure, things may not be perfect. The storms may come and drench our nests; the enemy may slither up the tree unexpectedly. But God is still in control, and He meets all of our needs.
But the time comes when God asks us to leave our comfort zones. He calls us out of everything we may have known, or have been comfortable in. Whether that’s in a physical move, a new job setting, a different school selection, a new church body, or any other thing the Lord is laying on your heart- God is calling us to move. He wants us to fly out and discover the new things He has for us every day!
But, we stand at the edge and wait. We sit, we squawk. We make every excuse not to move. The Lord doesn’t want to have to push us out- He desires children that are strong in Him, and will to walk by faith, and not by sight.
I was sitting there again, and I began to think of what happens when a bird isn’t willing to move. In order for a bird to survive, he must first break out of his egg. Just to get the all important breaths he needs for simple life- he must first leave all that he knows. Otherwise, he suffocates from the inside out. And a bird needs to leave his nest to grow! To live on the inside, he needs to find what’s in store for him. Otherwise his nest becomes like a cage, and he becomes content to play with the little toys stuck inside, and to eat the processed foods to keep him alive. Yet he’s dead to all else.
And for a young believer, it’s much the same. One can be starved to death if all they are is content with the milk that God provided for them. They are meant to grow to eat the meat of His Word! And the become too content to sit through Sunday morning services, to pay $10 into the plate as it passes, and to go back to their everyday ordinary life.
Come and find your life in Christ! Take the step of faith into the vast unknown! God always has the perfect place for you to grow in Him! It’s time to stop being content with what’s being served to us on a silver platter.
It’s time to grow up!
It’s time to grow up!
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. 1 Peter 2:2For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Hebrews 5:12-14So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
