Tag: crows

  • Murder – death of Jesus for our sake

    four crows on a tree branch

    Today, I saw a murder of crows in the tree. In case you don’t know, a murder is the formal name for a gathering of crows.

    Seeing the crows brought murder to mind. I started to think about all the murder mysteries I have watched and read over the years. They all had something in common, besides the body. In all of them, as far as I can remember, the victim was unable to prevent his own murder.

    There is one murder, however, that I know of, where the victim willingly submitted to being murdered for a greater cause. I’m Speaking of course, of the murder of Jesus, planned by the Jewish leaders, and carried out by the Roman rulers.

    The Jewish leaders perceived Jesus as a threat, and when they could not discredit him, they planned to kill him. They used Pontius Pilate to have him crucified, a most ignominious death.

    Let’s set the scene, before Jesus was taken to Pilate, one of his disciples betrays him and shows up at the Garden of Gethsemane with troops to arrest him

    Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled. Matthew 26:50-56 ESV

    Jesus willingly goes with them and submits to being convicted in a kangaroo court on completely fabricated charges. He is mocked, rejected, tortured, and eventually killed on the cross.

    Why would the God of the universe permit himself such indignities? Because he loves us. He humbled himself, set aside his rights, and came to earth to die.

    “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:8 ESV

    If that thought doesn’t amaze you, you need to stop and think about what he has done for you.

    Praise God for all his mercies.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    For the Birds – God’s provision
    The Gospel – the best news you will ever hear

  • Grey Days

    Even Christians can have down days

    two wet magpies in the rain

    It’s a grey and gloomy morning. The rain is drizzling, and the sky  is threatening to open up even more. Each morning, more of the leaves have begun to change color. It isn’t cold yet, but it feels every bit as autumnal as the calendar says it should.

    The few birds that are around are all fluffed up and hunkered down. They look very unhappy. None has even bothered to come over to the feeders.

    Life can be that way. Even devout Christians can have grey, down, depressed days.

    There is this myth in the faith that we must always be upbeat and happy. It’s as if we feel that by admitting our struggles, we will bring disaster upon ourselves or appear less than holy. We worry that fellow believers will look down on us if the walls we have created crack even slightly.

    My friends, this should not be so. The body is designed to enable us to help one another through the power of the Spirit.

    Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  Galatians 6:2

    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

    I’m not suggesting that you open the flood gates on every struggle, every sin, to everyone. There must be some level of discernment.

    When we’re not honest with each other, we steal from one another. We rob others of the opportunity to minister to us. We rob ourselves of being ministered to. We rob God of the glory due to His name.

    We are broken, weak, flawed vessels of God’s grace. That’s no surprise to God, and it shouldn’t be a surprise that our brothers and sisters in Christ face struggles as well.

    He is glorified in our weakness and brokenness because He is the one who brings healing and wholeness.

    But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

    It’s okay to have gray days and struggles. It’s good to share them. Our witness is magnified when we can praise God through the struggles.

    Until next time, let’s learn to trust God and one another.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

    Be blessed, 

    Kevin

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