Parable of the Birds

There once was a flock of birds who forgot to fly south for the winter. Now it was late in December and it was getting awfully cold. God loved those birds and didn’t want them to freeze, so he sent his only Son to become a bird and to show them the way to a warm barn where they would be saved from the cold. Most of the birds were leery of this cocky new bird who said he knew the way to safety. The leaders of the flock felt threatened by this bird, so they killed him. Some of the flock believed this new bird and were saved from the cold by flying to the warm barn as the new bird had directed. Most of the flock, however, refused to believe this bird, and they died from the cold.

“He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”—John 1:11-12

 

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He Stilled the Storm

It continually amazes me to see how often the Old Testament predicts the coming life and ministry of Jesus that unfolds in the New Testament.

Psalm 107:28-30 says, “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.”

Doesn’t this sound like an eye-witness account of how Jesus calmed the sea for his disciples? Yet it was written centuries before the event actually happened!

Whenever we see these prophetic messages in the Scripture, it serves to strengthen our faith in God. Let’s always be on the lookout for these prophecies that would later be fulfilled in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, and let’s be ready to share these truths so that others will be strengthened in their faith.

 

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Reading Between the Lines

In her song Stoney End, Barbra Streisand sings, “I was raised on the good book Jesus till I read between the lines.”

That’s when people get into trouble, when they start reading between the lines. The “good book” is God’s Word to us about how to live our lives. The Bible explains the nature of God and what he expects from human beings, the crown of his creation. We do well when we pay attention to the Word and take it seriously, obeying its commands.

People who read between the lines are inserting their own beliefs, which are often contradictory to what the Lord says. God says that we need to be careful not to take anything away from what the Bible says, nor to add to its words. Reading between the lines leads to false beliefs, which leads to wrong actions.

Let’s be careful to just read the lines.

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.”—Revelation 22:18

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What’s the Weather Like?

I recently heard about a man who has a special rock that tells him what the weather is like. He keeps it right outside his kitchen window. If he looks out and sees that the rock is casting a shadow, he knows that it is sunny. If the rock is wet, he knows that it’s raining. If the rock has snow on it…well, you get the picture.

The point is, we just need to use our common sense to understand what is obviously true. Sometimes it’s just as simple as that.

“’Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord…”—Isaiah 1:18

 

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Issue the Warning!

A 9-year-old Ohio boy was struck by a stray bullet while watching television around midnight on New Year’s Eve. The boy is said to be in serious condition after he was hit in the hand, shoulder and chest area. The shooting appears to have been accidental.

Just last week, Cleveland police, along with other agencies across Ohio and the country, issued warnings against celebratory gunfire on New Year’s Eve. We need to be careful about firing off dangerous weapons in a casual manner. Sometimes innocent people get seriously hurt.

“All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”—James 3:7-8

 

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Keeping It Together

Gayle Urban writes about the time she was browsing in a Christian bookstore and discovered a shelf of reduced-price items. Among the gifts was a little figurine of a man and woman, their heads lovingly tilted toward one another. “HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY” read the inscription. It appeared to be in perfect condition, yet its tag indicated “DAMAGED”. Examining it more closely, she found another tag underneath that read: “WIFE IS COMING UNGLUED”.

Whenever it seems like your life is falling apart, remember that Jesus is the one who can hold it all together for you.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”—Matthew 11:28

 

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Resolve to Exercise

With the coming of a new year, many people resolve to improve themselves in some area. A popular resolution is to get more exercise.

I heard about a man who suddenly decided that if he started running he would live longer. He said, “If my wife catches me she will kill me!”

There was another fellow who came up with his own specialized exercise program. He moved his couch to the other side of the living room so that it would be farther away from the refrigerator!

If you decide to get more serious about exercising this year, I hope you fare well with your resolution.

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”—1 Timothy 4:8

 

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Quite a Responsibility!

A mother decided that it was time to talk to her young son about receiving Christ. “Son”, she asked quietly, “would you like to have Jesus living inside you?”

The boy thought for a moment and then replied, “No. I don’t think I want the responsibility!”

You have to appreciate the young man’s honesty!

It truly is a huge responsibility to live for Jesus. Many people only think about the privileges of Christianity—and they are many!—without considering the duties that we accept when we claim to follow him. Many people want Jesus to be their Savior. Fewer want him to be the Lord of their life.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,” and do not do what I say?”—Luke 6:46

 

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Reading that Book

Jana Jones writes that during the day she takes a few moments to unwind by reading the Bible. After seeing her do this for several years, her four-year-old daughter became concerned and asked, “Aren’t you ever going to get finished reading that book?”

Here are a couple of observations about this story:

First, let us never forget that people–especially young people–are observing our actions and we need to make sure that we set a good example for them.

Second, let us never be finished reading the Bible! We need to constantly saturate our hearts and minds with Scripture, drinking in its principles and then applying them to our lives.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”—Psalm 119:105

 

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The Miracle of the Virgin Birth

C.S. Lewis

Here is what C.S. Lewis had to say about having faith in the virgin birth of Jesus:

“The grounds for belief and disbelief are the same today as they were two thousand…years ago. If Joseph had lacked faith to trust God or humility to perceive the holiness of his spouse, he could have disbelieved in the miraculous origin of her Son as easily as any modern man; and any modern man who believes in God can accept the miracle as easily as Joseph did.”

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”—Isaiah 7:14

 

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