Jesus often spoke in parables to convey a spiritual truth or lesson. The mind can often understand more clearly with picture language and words together. In our daily lives the Holy Spirit often reveals to us a spiritual principle through a natural demonstration. With this in mind, consider the following: The Bald Eagle inhabits the mountain ranges of Colorado, U.S.A. In a study it was discovered that when these eagles reach the age of 40 years, something remarkable happens. Over the years deposits of food and debris have built up on their beaks and talons and the decaying matter has become as a poison to them. The eagles have two choices at this stage. The first is to hide themselves in the cleft of a rock and break off their talons and beak, making themselves vulnerable until regrowth occurs. During this time their fellow eagles understand their vulnerability and feed and protect them whilst unable to do so themselves. When the beak and talons have regrown the eagle can live another 30 years. The alternative choice is to do nothing, let nature take it’s course, and die.
What is the spiritual lesson the Holy Spirit can teach us from these facts? In the natural we all like to protect ourselves, not wanting to make ourselves vulnerable to others. The fact is that God requires us to make ourselves vulnerable to Him, where He directs us, in order for Him to demonstrate His protection, strength and grace to us, and through us. As, and where, God directs, we should also protect the vulnerable.
God makes imperfect men, that we may find our perfection and completion in Him!
To walk in truth before God, and man, is an acquired taste that God has to work in us. Jesus, our Pattern Man, was transparent. The devil could find no darkness in Him at all to gain a foothold into His life. Jesus made Himself completely vulnerable to His Father by His daily choices of surrendering His own will to that of His Father’s. He declared that He only ever spoke the words His Father gave Him, and only ever did the works His Father gave Him to do.
The world sees weakness and vulnerability in the negative. In God these are necessary qualifications in us for Him to demonstrate His power and glory. 1 Corinthians 1: 26-31 teaches us that an awareness of our lack: “the foolish, the base, the weak, the are-nots”…….these are our qualifications for us to embrace what we are in the natural, that He might enable us to walk in His power and might, the resurrection life of His Son, our birthright in Christ, and all the credit/glory is God’s.
When we let our guard down and make ourselves vulnerable to Him, we will stop justifying ourselves, stop endeavouring to right every wrong, stop trying to control situations and people, stop reacting to other’s words directed our way. We are not waiting for God, God is waiting for us! James 5:7 “…..the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth……”. The Divine Gardener comes to inspect the fruit in His vineyard. If a tree has a poor fruit yield, it may be necessary to prune it. We all need pruning at some stage…….but it brings positive results.
Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God”. The man who learns to stay still, moves quickest when the Spirit prompts. This is not a physical immobility, ( it may be), but a surrendered heart at rest, at peace in God, open to the Spirit’s directions and promptings when He gives us a proceeding word. Jesus said, “….It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”. Matthew 4:4.
The wrong images we have of ourselves – the man I think I am, the man I want others to think I am, have to be broken. The true image of who we really are, is the one that God sees and is the only one that counts. He has ways and means to show us where we really are. As we humble, embrace and repent, then God has a free hand to create in us the image and likeness of His beloved Son. Christ in me – the hope of glory! As I bow to Him and make myself vulnerable to His trusted hands, He does all the creative work, to God alone is all the glory!
2 Corinthians 12:9 ” ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness’. Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”.
2 Corinthians 4: 6-7 “For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power be of God and not of us”.
