Issue 1480 – Little Lost Duck – June 22, 2024
As I walked around the lake, I witnessed a heartbreaking scene unfold. A single ducking, either separated from its family or orphaned, was swimming along the lakeshore and in obvious distress. It kept peeping for its mother.
Suddenly, it spotted a mother mallard with her ducklings, peeped out in excitement, and headed up onto the bank to be with them. It was obvious to me that the duckling was older than those with the mother, but it recognized a mother and went for help.
As soon as the duckling got close, the mother attacked him and drove him away to protect her babies. The last I saw of him, the little lost duck was swimming down the lake, even more panicked than when he had spotted the family.
Sometimes, our local assemblies can behave like that mother mallard.
Lost, hurting, and frightened sinners see the church and come for help. They don’t know the rules, the dress code, or anything else except that they are in a mess, and somehow, the church might be able to help.
When they show up, we ignore them because they’re dressed differently. We look down on them because they are sinners (conveniently forgetting that we are sinners too, just forgiven). We shun them because they don’t “act Christian” (forgetting that only Christ can change a person, and they haven’t had that blessing yet).
When we do so, we drive them away from Jesus. I’m certain He’s not pleased with us. I know He’ll forgive us, but it makes a mockery of His sacrifice.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35
What do they think of our “love” when we drive them away? What do they think of our Lord?
James was right on the money when he wrote:
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. James 2:1-12
Until next time, don’t drive them away when the little lost duckling comes in the door. Love them instead.
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV)