By David ReayMonday 8 Sep 2014LifeWords DevotionalsFaithReading Time: 0 minutes
Transcript:
Read Ephesians 4:20-24
20 That,however,is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught,with regard to your former way of life,to put off your old self,which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self,created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (NIV)
A Danish theologian/philosopher called Soren Kierkegaard told a story of a church for ducks. Each Sunday the ducks would waddle to church where a leader duck gave inspiring talks to them. He told them they had wings to fly rather than just waddle around in the mud. They could be free of all that if they would use their wings. No fences or boundaries could hold them.
And the ducks would enthusiastically quack their amens and hallelujahs,heartily endorsing the liberating message they were hearing. And then when duck church ended,they would gather their belongings and waddle back home.
A picture of what it is like for followers of Jesus who know all about their newness in Christ and the power of the Spirit and yet keep on ‘waddling’. Of course we are not expecting instant maturity or perfect newness and victory. But nor need we assume just living the same old life is the norm.
We were made by God to fly,not just ‘waddle’. True,we sometimes fall to ground,and our flying can be a very faltering and modest affair. But when we examine our lives,can we truly say the Spirit of God is making a significant difference in our lives. The new self still does some battle with the old self,but in principle we are new creations. We are not invited to be spiritual supermen or superwomen. We are simply invited to be in practice who we are in principle.
Blessings
David Reay