Under His Wings

I am really enjoying our "Tuesday Together in the Word" blog. There were several days this week that felt too cold to get out of bed early to do our daily reading. Thanks ladies for your accountibilty- it really helped me stay on track. To read more, go to DeeDee's site.

There were so many great verses this week. The verse that really grabbed me this week was Luke 13:34:

O, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

This scirpture reminded me of a story that I read years ago in Beth Moore's study "A Women's Heart":

After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings.

The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise.

She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of her wings would live.

What a beautiful picture of Jesus' love for us! He could have come down off the cross but His love for us kept Him there to die in our place.

In Luke 13:34, why did He not gather Isreal into his arms like a hen gathers her chicks under her wing? Because they were not willing. They choose their own way over the warmth and protection of life beneath His wings. As a result, Isreal was defeated. The same is so true of our lives. Jesus longs to gather us under His wings but we want to live our own lives and make our own discussions. Our lack of obedience cause us to step out of his protective care.

I love the way that Beth Moore puts it:
Christ Jesus longs to draw us under the shelter of His wings- so close to His side that we can hear His tender heartbeat. He yearns to lavish us with His possessive, protective love. To cover us from so many unneccary harms. There is a secret place. Go, beloved and hide.

Please join us this week as we read:
Wenesday-Luke 15
Thursday-Luke16
Friday - Luke 17
Saturday-Luke 18
Sunday- Psalm 10-12
Monday- Luke 19
Tuesday- Luke 20