Beyond Common Sense

This morning, I finally filled by bird feeders.  I’m so thankful that the little birdies do not have to depend upon me for their survival, because I’m not very faithful in feeding them – especially when I’ve run out of seed!  But now the feeders are clean and full and there’s plenty more, not in the barn, but in our garage!

Feeding the birds and watching them is a hobby of mine.  I especially love to watch  the yellow finches in the spring when their tiny feathers regain their brilliant yellow coloring.  I also get really excited when the colorful blue buntings are sited – a rarity.  I haven’t been able to draw in the bluebirds, although they do use our houses; and although I couldn’t see them one summer, I could hear their conversation on the day the babies were to leave the comfortable security of the home and fly!  They chattered all morning!

It may take awhile, but my little feathered friends will return once the word gets out that the seed is there!  Once more, my front window will be filled with bird flights and song!

But what if I had left the seed “in the barn?”  I made the effort to purchase the forty pound bag!  I even emptied into the rodent-proof plastic container in the garage. (Speaking of rodents – did I tell you about the red squirrel that was in our toilet?  Now I have your attention!  Our garage is underneath our house, the other half is our basement where the wood stove burns cheerily and keeps us warm.  So…the basement door is kept open.  I guess the little fellow came in through the garage and decided to see what was upstairs but got thirsty!  He should have worn his life jacket!)

I’m sure you’ve already guessed the spiritual application behind this blog. Is the seed yet in the barn?  The seed is the Word of God.  How are you doing at getting the Word out?  We have so many venues today that we can use, but probably the most effective way is still the words you speak.  Movies are great, blogs are wonderful :), billboards can shout out the Word; but nothing speaks louder than your own voice!  Why?  Because YOU are there, behind the voice, with your heart showing through!

It doesn’t always mean going through the “plan of salvation” with someone. There are lots of seeds that have to be planted; or perhaps the better illustration would be the farmer or gardener who knows the work that has to be done before the seed hits the ground!  Plowing, raking, fertilizing, weeding, digging…so much happens before the joy of planting the seed takes place.

Last night, I had the privilege of talking and  praying with a young boy about salvation.  His little heart was so tender.  He prayed that Jesus would come into his heart and take away his sin and be his Savior.  It was a wonderful blessing, but many, many hours went into that moment.  His parents’ faithfulness in taking him to church and teaching him at home, praying with him, reading the Bible with him…all this took place before last night.  I believe God’s Word took root in his tender heart, and I look forward to watching that little life grow!

Take the seed with you – carry a Gospel tract.  I’m especially in favor of that kind of witness because it was through a Gospel tract that I found the truth, became a believer, got saved, was converted, trusted Christ! Choose your phrase!  I love to hand a cashier a tract and say, “This is the best news you’ll get today!”  True?!

The seed in my feeder will cause a flurry of activity.  “It’s here,” the birds chirp one to  another.  Are you in a church that is preaching God’s Word?  This is easy to tell, because the preacher stands up there and opens the Bible and preaches!  (Sorry, did that sound sarcastic?)  I once head a young girl say that she NEVER hears her pastor preach!  during the preaching, she’s in a class where they watch DVDs.  I’m not saying that DVDs can’t be effective, but shouldn’t an eleven year old be able to sit and listen to the Word of God being preached?  What are we teaching our children?  Is the seed left in the barn?

If I had a birdcage in my home, and it housed a little canary, that tiny life would be dependent on my faithful feeding.  Unlike the birds outside who can go to the neighbors or the forest and fields to get nourishment, my little canary would only receive the food a placed in his cage.  How much of God’s Word are YOU feeding to your children?  And don’t forget to stuff yourself while you’re at it!

Is the seed in the barn?  Oh the power that is waiting to explode, now resting in that precious Book, the Bible!  Go ahead, try it – scatter a few and watch God work!  Your efforts are backed by God’s promises.  “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

May no one be able to say of us: “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.” Psalm 142:4

Is the seed yet in the barn? Habakkuk 2:19

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Hebrew 4:12