Psalm 103:5–“THY YOUTH IS RENEWED LIKE THE EAGLE’S.” “Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things so that thy youth is renewed as the eagle’s.” Eagles are known to live many years. However, as an eagle ages his bill grows too long for him to eat. Instinctively, he flies to a high place where he can be alone. Over time he pecks on a hard surface until the oversized bill falls off. Now he cannot eat because of having no bill at all, placing him on an extended fast. As a result his feathers fall out. As his new bill begins to grow he is able to eat again. Nourishment causes his feathers to grow back and he once again looks like a young eagle. Spiritually, we can grow old in the faith and find ourselves weakening spiritually, especially as we watch the world around us change so as not to no longer appear familiar. When that happens we need to get alone with God, do some fasting, praying and extra studying. Seeing our devotion to Him, God then refreshes our faith in order to recognize the spiritual needs of the ever-changing world around us which grows farther from Him each day. Our faith, which is founded in the ancient Scriptures, sometimes need a “freshioning up.” During that time we need to return to “the faith once delivered to the saints” and be reminded of the foundation upon which our lives are built (Jude 1:3).

Deuteronomy 32:11–“THE EAGLE STIRRETH UP HER NEST.” “As the eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings.” Moses is telling the Israelites how God deals with His children. When the mother eagle is ready for her little ones to leave the security of the nest and learn to fly she stirs them up, fluttering above them and encouraging them to test their wings. At times she will place them on her back and fly away in order to show them what lies ahead. Later she will literally push them out of the nest, forcing them to fly on their own. Being young and not having much strength, they soon weaken and begin to fall toward the ground. She then swoops down, catches them on her back and carries them back to the nest. This process continues until they can fly on their own. The Lord places us in situations where we must decide where our character and faith lie. This is God testing us. A good example is that of Judas Iscariot who was a thief when Jesus called Him into His ministry. So what did Jesus do? He made His newest disciple the group’s treasurer which placed him in control of “the bag” where he had access to the groups money at all times. Many times we, like Judas, find ourselves being tested by the Lord to see what we will do when the opportunity to sin presents itself. Judas was given such an opportunity to prove himself worthy of the Lord’s trust. He failed. Let us not be like Judas.

Second Kings 3:1–“WHO POURED WATER ON THE HANDS OF ELIJAH.” “Here is Elisha who poured water on the hands of Elijah.” Anciently one of a servant’s jobs was to pour water on the hands and feet of his master in order to wash them following a day of work or travel, which was by foot. Elisha was a student of the Prophet Elijah who, upon Elijah’s leaving in the famous heavenly chariot ride, received the mantel of ministry from his master. This episode is recorded in Second Kings 2. Elisha’s response revealed his self-generated servant attitude toward the elderly prophet even as (Elijah) was leaving and placing the ministry in the hands of the younger man. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples in a show of servanthood that characterizes His spiritual relationship with those who serve Him in their daily lives. He came as a servant to those who, by their obedience, proclaim their servanthood to God the Father as did Jesus during His earthly tenure. This gesture on His part revealed to the disciples the attitude of service to their fellow disciples/apostles. Their love for one another dignified their service. Our love for Father and Son reveals our service to Them and to one another. Our love dignifies all we do as servants to God and to our fellow man.

Proverbs 30:33–“THE WRINGING OF MILK BRINGS FORTH BUTTER.” The word for churning and wringing in Hebrew are the same. A woman would take the skin of a large animal and make a jar out of it. The jar was then placed on a tripod and filled with milk. The jar was shaken and kneeded until butter formed. I learned early on that God will sometimes shake and prod us by throwing us into unusual situations in order to build or test our faith. I was in prayer before daylight one morning many years ago when the Lord spoke to me. His words concerned a man who had been killed several days earlier when a tree fell on him, crushing his chest and destroying his heart and lungs. He was technically dead but was connected to artificial heart and lung machines. The Lord told me to go to the hospital and pray for him and He would raise him up. I had no doubt that He would do so. The problem (shaking and proding) was that it was long before hospital visiting hours would officially begin. The staff could call hospital security or the local police who could legally throw me out. A fact which I brought up to the Lord. Nevertheless, He told me to go immediately, not later when it would not be a problem. Upon my arrival at the proper location the nurses were so stunned that I was there and was going to pray for the man that they did not call security. They simply pointed toward the room where his body lay. When I walked through the door he opened his eyes. I told him who I was and that God was going to heal him. I asked if he understood. He nodded his head. Three days later the local newspaper reported on page one’s lead article that the man had “walked out of the hospital”. The Lord will do such things in the life of a believer to prepare him/her for even greater things later on. For the true believer, John 14:12 is a reality. L.J.