January 15th
Read: Hebrews 12:1-2, Luke 12:20; Isaiah 66:2; Psalms 51:17; 1 Peter 5:7
There was a park near our flat in London where flocks of pigeons congregated to eat the bread thrown there by the folk who passed by. Anyone rattling a plastic carry-bag was immediately surrounded by the greedy birds looking for a handout.
One day as we walked through the park, I began to laugh as I saw one pigeon strutting about with a complete bread-crust strung around his neck like a necklace! Somehow as he had approached it he had flung it over his head, and now he was busily pecking at it trying to finish eating his treasure. Unfortunately what remained was just out of his reach, and he pecked in vain.
As we walked on I wondered if he would be able to fly with his curious necklace. Then I thought of Hebrews 12:1 and how we are to “lay aside the sins that so easily beset us.” That bread crust had easily slipped over the pigeon’s head, but it would not be so easily laid aside. Sometimes the very things which we so greedily take unto ourselves become nooses about our necks or weights to keep us from flying. Like the rich fool in Luke 12, we gain of this world’s goods and cannot use it all when we have it. Foolish pigeon; foolish us.
PRECIOUS THINGS
The world thinks much of precious things,
Of silver, furs and jewelled rings,
Of ambergris and yellow gold,
Desiring all its arms can hold.
It lauds the man who holds great wealth,
Admires the athlete’s bursting health,
Yearns to savor tasty food
And wine from sunny vineyards brewed.
But, ah, when God looks down on man
In light of His omniscient plan,
Small things are precious in His sight
And loving acts give Him delight.
He sees the humble, contrite heart,
And knows the ones who stand apart
To serve in love and sacrifice,
The ones who know He doth suffice.
He seeks for honor, truth and trust,
For minds whose thoughts are pure and just,
And finding these, He gives increase
Of His own precious life and peace.
Prayer: Dear Father, help me not to take anything unto myself that You do not give me for Your glory and my good.