We've had visitors this week. Wildlife week! Sitting in the breakfast nook, suddenly seeing ducklings crossing the yard brought us to life. Grabbing the camera and running out to capture the moment in the crisp morning air we were disappointed as the ducklings crossed into the field out of camera range.
Turning back toward the house, suddenly a lone duckling came right toward me peeping loudly. He joined his siblings who were calling him from the field, and then mommy came down the driveway calling her babies to her side. The ducklings were only too glad to hear mommy's voice and follow her back to safety and protection. Watching the scene unfold brought some thoughts to my mind about my "hearing". In Hebrews 3 and 4, God says, "Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." John 10:3 - 4 says, "...the sheep hear His voice; and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. And when He brings out His own sheep, He goes before them; and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice." Do we quickly follow the leading of Jesus?
Or do we have to be driven and chased to follow His voice like the next visitors a few days later?
Our next visitors were two escaped llamas barreling down the driveway ahead of their owners. The next hour held quite the chase! These llamas were intent on running from, not toward, their master. Hearing the voice of their master increased their running to and fro, through the garden, through the field, around the woodlot - anywhere but toward their master. Is this sometimes how we treat Jesus when He calls? Do we resist and go our own way, trying every avenue but His? Oh, how we are missing the rest and peace He is desiring to give us! Instead, we frantically try to fix our problems, increase our pace, and just run at high speed, when all the while Jesus is waiting to give us rest. I think this is why Hebrews 4:11 exhorts us to be diligent to enter the rest.
Finally, Adam roped the biggest and most belligerent llama after a circus of chase around the wood. Whew! Do I really want Jesus to have to harness me with bit and bridle, like the horse or mule which have no understanding and will not come near? (Psalm 32:9) Rather, "I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace..."
What a contrast in "hearing" and what an illustration to us this week! I don't want anything to come between me and my Savior. Lord Jesus, I don't want you to have to rope me in, When You speak I want to be like those disciples on the road to Emmaus. "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" K.C.
