Taking the Plunge

A few days ago, we watched as three little house martins took their first flight. Two months earlier the parent birds had been busily building their nest under the eaves of our house. In the last couple of weeks, they were getting really busy with three growing chicks to feed. And for several days we had watched their little black and white faces as they looked out at the open skies that would soon be their world.

We were watching the last one that hadn’t quite plucked up the courage to launch out and trust its wings. One of the parents came with food and, seconds after it had left, the youngster suddenly took the plunge and was off.

That little bird, like its parents and siblings, had everything it needed to live as it was created to live. For about three weeks it had depended on its parents to feed it. But now it could fly and fend for itself. Within the next few weeks, it will be setting off for its long flight to Africa.

Throughout our lives, God will ask us to do things we’ve never done before; to respond to challenges we have never faced before. When He does this, He gives us ‘everything we need’. The little house martin had never flown before. It had never caught insects in flight. But it was already equipped with wings to fly with, eyes sharp enough to see insects in flight, and reactions quick enough to catch them. Its brain is no bigger than a pea. But not only will it be able to feed itself, it will find its way to Africa and back again next spring. It really does have everything it needs. And so do we.

We don’t just have everything we need for life. God also gives us everything we need for godliness. There are so many times when the temptation to compromise our Christian standards is almost overwhelming. But when we put our hand in God’s, He’ll keep us on the right path. The house martins didn’t fall out of the nest, they flew. When the challenges come, God will keep us from falling (Jude 1:24).

Prayer: Father, thank You that You promise to keep me from falling. Today I commit all that I do and all that I am to You. Thank You that You have given me all that I need to face the challenges of the day. I now choose to trust You and commit myself to draw on Your resources for life and godliness. Amen.