I’m not much for email-forwards but I received this one a couple weeks ago and thought it was pretty clever…

THE BUZZARD 

If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet.  Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top. 

THE BAT

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air.  Then, at once, it takes off like a flash. 

THE BUMBLEBEE 

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself. 

In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that we have freedom in Christ to escape. I heard once that elephants are trained to not wander by tying their ankle to a tree for a few days. The elephant will assume that he is always chained to the tree even long after the bondage has been removed. So it is with us. Christ has come to free us from our pain, sorrow, addictions, weaknesses, and fears. We have an open cage. The rope is off our ankle. We just need to believe it, step out in faith, spread our wings, and see that we are free. Don’t believe the lie that it will never get better. You will overcome what has overcome you in the past. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation but take heart for I have overcome the world.”

Fight against the fear and discouragement right now. Get on your knees and receive the freedom that comes through the blood shed at the cross. You are a new creation in Christ…the old has gone, the new has come. We are victors in Christ Jesus. Make that your new identity and you will receive the peace and joy of the Lord in abundance.

Today is a new day.