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It is the same for all of them - birds, hawks, owls, eagles,
chickens and even turkeys. It’s a genetic thing. You see, these
winged creatures all have tendons that run from their bodies, down
their legs, through their knees, to their feet and finally out into
each toe or claw. This unique design allows them to do something
that other animals just can’t accomplish; it allows them to roost,
that is, to sleep while perched on a small surface such as a limb or
a narrow board in a chicken coop. How do they do it? When these
birds squat or settle down to sleep, they bend their knees. This
motion stretches the tendons running through their knees, thus
retracting their claws and feet, resulting in a firm grip on the
limb or board. With this automatic grip they can sleep peacefully
without fear of falling.
The process of bending knees to get a grip provides a great lesson
for us. I have observed several areas in which people need to
get a grip, meaning to understand or face the
reality. First, get a grip on who you are spiritually. The New
Testament books of John and Romans provide details about how to have
an eternal relationship with God. There are plenty of people who
talk a good line about spiritual things but have no personal
commitment to Biblical principles. If you have a relationship with
God, what is it in your life that expresses it? Matthew 7:20 says
“Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” What spiritual
fruits do others see in your life?
Second, get a grip on your attitude. How you see life will determine
how you live life. There aren’t too many things worse than a person
with a bad attitude. Philippians 2:5 says “Your attitude should be
the same as that of Christ Jesus.” Is yours?
Third, get a grip on your priorities. All of us decide where, when
and how we are going to spend our time, money and our
efforts. Unfortunately, many people let others or
circumstances control their priorities. Too many people just
drift with life, never deciding what is most important to them and
never really accomplishing much toward their growth as a person or
in their career. Some of you still have not made an assessment of
where you’re going. If you have no target, or goal, you don’t know
what to shoot at!
Common Sense Application
1.
Read the books of John and Romans to
better understand the process God established by which we may have
an eternal relationship with Him.
I like Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9-10
& 13, and I John 5:11-13.
If you want a fresh relationship with
God, do the following:
Pray to Him, confess your sin and ask
for forgiveness.
Give Him control of your life.
2.
Ask a close friend or family member to
give you an honest monthly attitude
check.
Listen to yourself as you interact with
others.
Ask God to help you change your
attitude to a more positive one.
3.
Nothing helps establish priorities
better than writing down your daily requirements, deciding what is
most important and assigning priority numbers to them.
Once established, stick to your
priorities.
4. Finally, try bending
your knees every day in prayer to get a grip on God’s
best for your life.
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