DARK DAYS ARE FOR HIS GLORY!

(by E. H. Maze)

 

Chapter 22     

 

This Place is for the Birds - Bobbin the Robin

 

 

SPIRITUAL GREATNESS

Matthew 13:31-32 “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.”

 

 

The tree, in this parable, is the church.  We are to grow up and become huge!  We are to be dominantly powerful.  We are to be hard to miss.  We are to be a place that is easy to find and comfortable to be at/with when found.  Such a great place that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.  We will talk about the birds later, but for now, I don’t want you to miss the point:  There is something in each of us little people - something potentially so explosive that when we have fully matured, the past will not be a part of our wonder.  The difference between a seed and a full-gown tree is evident.  You are a seed, yes.  But, you are also a tree!

 

Actually, you are not the seed at all.  You are a branch that has grown from a seed.  The seed is the Word of God.  That seed has started producing branches (you and I are the branches).  Listen, everywhere around you are more branches, each feeding from the source which is Jesus.  You are a part of this huge process. 

 

I want you to picture this:  A large tree in the middle of a scorching desert.  The desert is alive with rattlesnakes, scorpions, coyotes.  Beyond your branches is nothing more than desert heat, scorching and scouring the landscape.  As a tree you are flourishing.  Why?  Because beneath you there is a source of nutrients that continually feeds you.  Also, beyond your branches are birds - hundreds, thousands of them.  They have flown many miles to find shelter in the torturous desert.  Here they come!  They have spotted you.  What are you going to do now?

 

 

THIS PLACE IS FOR THE BIRDS.

 

This place (your heart, this church) is a place for birds who neither sew nor reap, nor gather into barns, yet their heavenly Father feeds them - cares for them - provides for them.

This is the principle of the Kingdom of God that exceeds, excels and, finally, escapes the material realm.  Below are four principles of greatness that you can apply to your own life or pass on to others.

 

1.  Jesus said often, “The Kingdom of God is like . . .”

Jesus spent a great deal of time describing the Kingdom of God.  In those descriptions, he never wavered from the fact that the Kingdom is something great - something worth attaining.

 

Look at the parable of the “House built on a rock,” for instance.  He was trying to tell us that a man’s house is not just a location on a street somewhere on planet earth.  A man’s “house” is what we call his “circle of influence.”  A man’s family, his wealth and possessions (if he has any), his friends, all of these things are a part of his house or circle of influence.

 

God’s Circle of Influence is the world, the universe, heaven and beyond all space and time.  The amazing thing is that, just as a small baby can become a man’s most important possession in all that he influences, you are exactly that way with the Lord.  Even though you (and I) are a small, seemingly insignificant spectator - hardly able to express your wonder at how magnificently he created you - yet, you are not least in His eyes.

When Jesus said that His Father cares for the sparrow that falls from the sky he was making reference to His care and concern for you.

 

2.  Insignificant Grows Into Greatness

 

The Bible teaches that the first shall be last and that the last shall be first.  That is not a metaphor for God’s judgment; rather, it is a statement of how He sees things.

 

We are presently called to serve one another.  In that servant spirit we are recognized as great leaders.  The Sunday School Teacher is great!  The Pastor is great!  The Assistant Sunday School Teacher is great!  The Janitor is great!  The Youth Minister is great!  The Servant Without a Title is great!  The Poor-Slob-Who-Keeps-Screwing-Up is great!

 

 

3.  Faith is Decision & Obedience, rather than ability

 

So often, people don’t believe that they possess the gift, talent or the ability to serve.  Hogwash!  Jesus made evangelists out of fishermen.  He made giant killers out of Shepherds.  And yet, in every case He had found someone who had made a decision that “if the Lord is with me, who can be against me.”  These were men and women who, in the face of opposition and even their own doubt, never doubted God and trusted Him.  They were obedient to a God bigger than their problems or challenges - obedient even unto death in some cases.

 

4.  Obedient Faith Releases Holy Spirit Power to Accomplish the Task.

 

According to Matthew 13:31-32, your church is for the birds.  Your church is like the mustard seed.  You are, also, like the mustard seed.  You are capable of great things.  As we grow and mature we become a haven, a place of rest for the weary birds who need a place of safety and shelter - a place to raise their young.

 

A Great Church Will Be Swarmed by Truly Faithful People!

 

A friend of mine wrote a song based on this principle.  Part of it goes like this:

 

“This place is for the birds,” I heard the preacher say.

This place is for the birds, it happens just this way:

If we are Jesus’ branches then we ought to spread them wide

So all of those out in the cold can find a place inside

Then, they can build a nest just like the birds in the tree…”

 

 

The birds, in the parable of the mustard seed, represent the people of the world.  They need a place to get away from the onslaught of the enemy vultures  who want to kill, steal and destroy them.  (See my story about little Bobbin the Robin).  We are to become a place to where people can fly.  This place we call church is to be a haven of rest.  A safe-house.  This place is for the birds.

 

 

Your Miracle:

This Place is for the Birds!

 

Matthew 13:31-32 “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.”

 

You may see yourself as Bobbin the Robin (hope you read the story).  He couldn’t fly until he had to.  You have been forced to decide, “Am I going to fly or die?”

 

You may see yourself as only a branch on a large tree – insignificant, hidden deep inside the tree where no one notices - or, way out there, exposed to the world.  Either way, here is your miracle:  You are there to be a branch for the birds of the air to nest upon.  Make a place in your heart for the weary, lonely, tired and needy – soon you will find yourself useful to the Kingdom of God.

 

Say it out loud:  THIS PLACE IS FOR THE BIRDS!

 

A GREAT CHURCH WILL BE SWARMED BY TRULY FAITHFUL PEOPLE!

 

 

end of Chapter  (click here to go to Chapter 23)- if link is not active, the chapter is not yet ready.  Check back later, please.

Please let me know if you have read (and enjoyed) this chapter by sending me a quick email to:  ehylandmaze@aol.com

bless you.....................................Eugene H. Maze

This chapter and all chapters related to this website book entitled "Dark Days" (copyright 2004) was written and published by Eugene H. Maze.  No portion of this book may be copied, sold or distributed either by electronic or other means in any fashion whatsoever without the expressed written permission of the author.  Permission for distribution may be obtained by contacting the author at ehylandmaze@aol.com.  Links to this and all previous and subsequent pages of this book entitled "Dark Days" may be distributed freely without permission.

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