Craig Clouston

Who’s Spirit Is Showing?

We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
1 Corinthians 2:12

It was like watching an aerial dogfight. As soon as one gained the upper hand, another attacked from a different quadrant of the sky. Hovering near their food source, little wings beating one thousand times a second, the hummingbirds defended their territory. Time and again they would hover over the feeder, dipping their beaks into the little yellow flower.
If alone, they would take the perch while eating. Whether they stayed there was determined by which of their neighbors showed up.
Catching them on film had become a challenge. Trying to capture their acrobatic antics had become as entertaining as reading or watching TV, even to the point of naming them.
Skinny had become our favorite. We found ourselves rooting for her, watching her fend off all comers. As her name would imply, she was of slender build, about half the size of most of the birds who visited our feeder. Yet she possessed a fierceness the others didn’t. Only one bird challenged her belief that she was boss—a ruby-throated male named Ralph. Yet even Ralph gave ground when Skinny pushed the fight.

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Regrettably, the same traits displayed by these tiny, feathered helicopters are present in the church. We fight and bicker over denominational issues, proud that we have it all figured out! And in doing so, good-willed people place pride ahead of grace.
As much as I loved to watch Skinny triumph, I had to admit that she was selfish, narrow-minded, and domineering. She didn’t need to expend this negative energy. There was plenty of food if she would only share. But she couldn’t seem to put aside her domineering attitude. There was an incessant animosity that would not be denied.
We were given God’s Holy Spirit that we might learn to be gentle in grace, showing others a true reflection of Christ. Yet to our disgrace, there are times when there are no signs of His presence.

Prayer

“Lord, forgive my petty attitude. May You find me willing to overlook inconsequential differences and ready to build bridges instead of burning them. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”