2013-11-26 - Woodpecker Warnings

Several weeks ago, God again used one of our feathered friends to teach me a lesson. It's a known fact, among birders, that Woodpeckers favor dead trees over live ones, because the dead ones are better sources of grubs and other food sources. They also make appealing housing in which the Woodpeckers can raise their families. Consequently, because the bird's presence is a symptom of an unhealthy tree, we keep a close eye on every one that we see a Woodpecker frequenting, especially if it is close enough to the house to fall on it during a strong wind. If we confirm that the tree is dead, we will remove it so that it will not endanger our house, not to mention anyone who walks under it.

Likewise there are symptoms of an unhealthy Christian life. These include avoidance of church attendance, procrastination involving reading the Bible, and being "too busy" to pray. If we are exhibiting any of these symptoms, we need to ask the Lord to search our hearts, and let us know whether there is a rupture in our relationship with Him.

Psalm 139:23-24 (The Message)

Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong —
then guide me on the road to eternal life.

Janice P. Moser
http://www.cfdevotionals.org