by: Russell McLaughlin

Designed To Be Like Jesus

           In Run with the Horses, Eugene Peterson writes about seeing a family of birds teaching their young to fly. Three young swallows were perched on a dead branch that stretched out over a lake. One adult feathered creature got alongside the chicks and started shoving them out toward the end of the branch, pushing them over and over again. One of them reached the end and fell off. Somewhere between the branch and the water below, the wings started working and the trainee was off on its own. Then the second one was off the end and taking fight.

            The third recruit rebelled and resisted the bullying. At the last minute his grip on the branch loosened and swinging downward, he tightened his grip again with stubborn tenacity. The parent, without sentimentality, pecked at the chick’s clinging talons until it was more painful to hang on than to face the insecurities of flying. The fledgling released its grip and began pumping its wings. The mature swallow knew what the chick did not, it would fly! There was no danger in making it do what it was naturally designed to do.

            A bird is at its best when it is flying because it was designed to fly. You and I are designed to be like Jesus, and that is when we are at our best, “29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” (Romans 8:29). Are we in alignment with God’s purpose for us? Are we living Christ-like lives? Are you asking yourself, what would Jesus do in all areas of your life?

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            Jesus wants us to let go and fly high as we live for Him. Let’s strive to be like Jesus, like we were designed!