Issue 1491 – Bobbing Along – July 5, 2024
I watched the covey of California Quail bob and weave their way across the open pathway between two hedgerows. It’s hard to deny these tiny birds are cute as their little topknots bobble.
Originally introduced as a game bird, quail numbers have slowly been increasing. They are small birds that nest on the ground, making them ideal targets for predators, particularly the felis catus (the common house cat).
Introduced species can be a boon or a disaster. The prolific English or house sparrow has displaced many species and often become a nuisance. The Eurasian Collared dove has pushed the resident Mourning Dove out of many areas.
I recently read about a South American moth that eats cactus. It was brought to Australia to remove the prickly pear, which grew from one plant to take over 50 million acres in 150 years. The moth did its job and brought the prickly pear under control.
This same moth has now been found in Mexico, where it is threatening the livelihood of farmers who grow a popular edible cactus species.
Work is being done on species of bacteria that each plastic to reduce the size of some of the waste in the floating ocean garbage islands. One problem is that it can’t differentiate bad plastics from useful ones. The potential for disaster is huge.
At first, the ancient emperors of Rome had no problem with Christians being introduced into their communities. That changed when their numbers began to increase, and the revolutionary, countercultural way of life that Jesus commanded us to live became perceived as a threat to Rome’s authority. The freedom found by many was a threat to some. Many persecutions followed.
In the same way, the Pharisees and Sadducees tolerated Jesus until his following grew to the point where they felt threatened. The freedom people found in Christ was seen to be a threat to the power structure of the Jewish church. They executed Jesus and many more, including Stephen and James.
Those who find Christ are set free from the bondage of their sin. Their lives are transformed in ways that defy description. They no longer accept the status quo of the world or buy as readily into its lies. That makes Christians seem like a threat to others. In our so-called “tolerant” society, you are free to share any religion, but bring up the name of Christ and watch how quickly the barriers go up.
We should not be surprised by this fact. Jesus tells us it will be this way.
Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. Luke 6:22-23
“Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time, you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. Matthew 10:17-23
None of us enjoys being rejected by family and friends because of our faith, the snide little digs, or being dropped from the social circle of friends.
None of us enjoys the one-dimensional caricatures of Christians portrayed by the media. Yet these things are minor compared to the persecution that many still face for their faith. They are even less significant when compared to the rewards the faithful receive in glory.
When the persecution comes … hold fast. The eternal rewards outweigh the temporary pain.
Be blessed
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)