November 19, 2008
Nodding
A
flash of movement by the water caught my eye and I paused to look. The brightly
colored bird took a drink, and then looked up. A moment later he took another
drink.
I
could have watched all day, and the process would have been repeated endlessly.
The bird was made of brightly colored glass and was mechanical. All the
nodding bird did was drop its head in the direction of the glass, then pop up
again.
The
glass would never be empty, the bird would never be filled or fly away and
before long, I would be tired of the spectacle and looked at something
else.
I
sometimes wonder if that's how we treat our faith. We go through the motions of
drinking from the Living Water and look up as if to move into action. Then we
repeat the process endlessly, never actually slaking our thirst or doing
anything.
Meanwhile
the hurting people of the world watch the spectacle of our “religion”, see
no change and no hope and move on in their search for comfort, hope and answers.
Jeremiah
2:13 NIV
My
people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living
water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Do
you have a nodding bird faith? Or is your faith an integral part of your
everyday life?
Is
you faith in your relationship with Jesus, or are you just nodding your head
towards the well of religion and looking pretty?
Come
drink your fill from the fountain of true faith,
Revelation
7:17 NIV
For
the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them
to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their
eyes."
Until
next time, may you drink deeply from the well of Living Water and may others be
drawn to the peace, hope and joy it gives you.
Remember
you can lead a bird to water but you can't make it drink!
Be
Blessed
Darrel
Mason