nest

I think I love you! So what am I so afraid of?

I'm afraid that I'm not sure of, a love there is no cure for.

I think I love you! Isn't that what life is made of?

Though it worries me to say, that I've never felt this way...

"Hey, Baby!" I say in a deep, radio-talk-show-host-voice. (It's my wife calling. That's her ring tone.)

"Did you see the bird's nest?" she asks.

"No."

"Oh man...I was in the garage and a Robin flew over my head. I looked up and saw a bird's nest on your bike!" she says.

"Nut-uh!?" I say

"Yeah-huh!" she replies. "It's wrapped around your bike chain."

Sure enough...Mindee was right. A Robin made its home on the bike hanging in our garage. This nest is huge and is made of twine and straw. It's also totally exposed...weird! I guess I won't be pedaling for awhile, because I wouldn't want to disturb any offspring.

This nest got me thinking:

There are "nests" in our hearts; a whole infestation of "nests" that get in the way of obeying God. He commands us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love our neighbor the way we love ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). The problem is we love our "nests" more than God and our neighbor.

Lust is like a Pterodactyl nest in the heart of most men. Some women, too. Its grip on us is massive (us includes me). Gossip is another. It can feel like a thick, twisted knot woven into the fabric of our heart; one that seemingly cannot be untied. The same is true of greed, envy, lying, and stealing...the list goes on and on. You get the point.

Wanna' know the crazy thing about these nests?

They are not the creation of a bird. We build them. We happily gather resources to secure their structure.

The solution to this problem is found in Jesus. He is the only one who can untie and remove these nests and replace them with an awesome nest. He promises to give us His Spirit to enable us to love. The way He wants us to love.

How?

Be honest with God. Tell Him about your nests. Point them out to Him. Ask Him to untie and remove them and then believe that He will. This is just a fancy way of describing repentance and faith.

By the way...I'm not promising that when you do this...your favorite "nest" will instantly disappear. Some nests take a lifetime to untie and remove. You're going to struggle. You're going to doubt. But don't give up! Repentance and faith is a daily task; an every minute of every day task.

I can say for certain that the more you repent and believe in Jesus, the more your nests will unravel and fall to pieces.

Don't believe me?

Try believing Jesus. I'm sure you've tried to believe in everything else under the sun to remove your nests. Give Him a chance. He is doing it in my heart. I know He can do it in yours.

What is "nesting" in your heart today?

A man with nests,

Tim Van Arsdale