John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (We can have freedom in Christ!)
While pondering what to write about for today’s blog post, I couldn’t think too well because of what seemed to be a constant chirping from the garage.
Knowing that I had just mowed the lawn and had left the door open for a while, I had little doubt that a bird had flown into the garage and had now become an occupant of a place God never intended for little birdie to occupy.
Getting up quietly, I opened the door to go into the garage while the main door was still closed… quietness. No chirping was to be heard anywhere, so I came back to the desk and within a matter of minutes, you guessed it… chirp, chirp, CHIRP! CHIRP!
I opened the main garage door, and even though it sat there within a foot of freedom, all it could do was continue to chirp! I picked up a piece of cardboard to see if I could “shoosh” it out, but it just flew into the garage more.
After starting an air blower and leaving the garage door open, I have given up and continue to listen to the chirping while trying to concentrate on what to write about.
Here’s the title of what I want to share, courtesy of a bird that has lost its way:
“Stop Chirping and Fly!”
I can’t help but think how much this little bird (not sure what kind it is) is so much like many people I’ve known in my 35 plus years of ministry, and yes, even myself from time to time. (Maybe you too).
Three things I wanted to point out as I sit and listen to the chirping:
1. The Bird Doesn’t Know the Door is Open
As the bird sat one foot from freedom I thought in my mind that for some reason, a bird that wasn’t very smart had to be the one that flew into my garage. As I looked at the “big picture,” I wondered why it just didn’t take a leap and fly away!
Evidently, birds don’t have the same sense of direction as humans do. Evidently, they’re not as smart as I am! (That felt good for a moment until I heard chirping again.)
So there the little bird sat… chirping while the door is right there!
How much like this little bird we can be as we live life. God has made a way for humanity to experience freedom in Christ and joy as they’ve never known before.
The door is wide open because of what Christ did on the Cross and as he rose from the Grave on the 3rd day.
John 10:9-10 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Humanity looks for happiness behind door # 1, door #2, door #3, and on and on, yet Jesus Christ says, “I am the door!”
Just like the bird, humanity often doesn’t KNOW the door is open because their spiritual eyes have not yet been opened to the freedom that exists! It’s up to those of us who know this freedom, to share about the freedom AND ask the Holy Spirit to open their eyes to the fact the DOOR is OPEN!
Stop Chirping and Fly!
Secondly, I believe:
2. Some would Rather Cry than Fly!
There are too many who have found out that if they cry loud enough, then attention will come their way. Please understand, that’s not the way it is with the majority of people, but there are “some” who find greater “joy” in knowing others are paying attention to their miseries instead of understanding the real joy of helping others experience freedom in Christ.
They have found themselves enslaved and trapped in sin or weights that slow their progress, yet they sit and “chirp” about it to anyone who will listen, and they will continue to chirp as long as someone will continue to listen! Yet, they will never know freedom in Christ!
Are YOU a “crier” or a “flyer”?
God didn’t design you to be overcome by this world, but to be an OVERCOMER! Some have said we can either be chickens or eagles, but God has created us to be eagles (spiritually speaking) flying high and overcoming, not chickens which are merely content with cackling on the ground.
Isa. 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
I think of a time in the life of Moses who found himself sandwiched between the Red Sea and the pursuing army of Pharaoh and as he prayed and cried out to God, the Lord spoke to him these words:
Exodus 14:15 The LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward.
In other words…
Stop Chirping and Fly!
And you know the rest of the story as the waters parted and the people moved forward!
Lastly, today, I wanted to point out the obvious:
3. Chirping is Annoying
Again, please know we are not talking about a real need that must be taken care of, but the constant chirping about things that could quickly be taken care of if we would do the right thing which in turn, would lead to freedom in Christ!
Perhaps you don’t believe in tithing, but I do. I’ve seen it work over and over and yes, even times when the needs seemed greater than the resources… it works!
People may chirp, “but I don’t make enough to tithe” and then, they wonder why they always seem to have a need that can’t be taken care of. In the Old Testament, they tithed, and Jesus never said to “stop” tithing. If they could tithe then on the light they knew, then I believe the tithe is a great place to START in New Testament days.
Chirping: “The money always seems to run out before the month does.”
Open Door: Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.
Chirping: “I just can’t forgive them for what they did to me.”
Open Door: Matthew 6:15 – But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Chirping: “Life’s not fair, it seems like everything and everyone is against me.”
Open Door: Rom. 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
On and on we could go, but by this time, perhaps it seems like I’m chirping!
By the way, the bird has stopped chirping and must have found its way to freedom!
While we may think our chirping is a blessing to people around us, rest assured it’s not. It can be very annoying :-(
AGAIN, THIS IS NOT THE CASE ALL THE TIME! Some real needs exist, but once the need is met, enjoy the freedom and let’s stop the chirping because we have FREEDOM in CHRIST!
John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.