There is an old story about a church of ducks. Every week they would waddle to Sunday services, open the duck book, sing duck songs, and listen to the duck preacher expound on the meaning of being a duck.
One particular Sunday all of the ducks waddled in and the service began. Shortly after, the duck preacher opened the duck book and began to preach. This Sunday, however, the message was different. With a new determination and fire in his eyes, the duck preacher began to convey a new message.
“We are ducks!” he said with confidence.
“Amen!” said all of the ducks.
“We have waddled too long!” he continued. “We have wings! We can fly!” he shouted as all of the ducks joined together in a resounding “amen!” The service came alive as all of the ducks began to see their potential. “We have been confined to this mundane existence of waddling for far too long!” exclaimed the duck preacher. “We can spread our wings and fly!” The service continued with enthusiasm for over an hour as shouts of “amen” filled the duck church.
When the duck preacher concluded the service, the congregation of ducks applauded and closed their duck books. Then they all waddled home.
"Quack! Quack!" Isn't it funny how God chooses to work things in our lives. Kyle brought me that silly duck story on Sunday morning and asked me if I could incorporate it into my Children's sermon. Although it was silly and made the kids laugh, it was also a good reminder to everyone about how we view church sometimes. We come in, sit down, and say our "Amens!" We like (or don't like) the music. We laugh at the cute children's sermon. We like the sermon and think that the pastor did a good job, but do we allow God to speak to us and mold our lives based on His Word spoken to us through every aspect of the service.
I went home after church, and as is my routine, changed out of my "Sunday morning clothes" and into my "hang out around the house clothes". I started to laugh, because the clothes I pulled out of the top of my drawer to change into had...you guessed it...DUCKS on them! And then I realized how quickly I had already forgotten about the message and time of worship I had just been a part of. Like those silly ducks who were told they could fly and then waddled home, it is so easy to go back and settle into our mediocre routines.
John 10:10 tells us that "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." Life...but not just life...life ABUNDANTLY! This doesn't mean a life of fame or fortune or easy living, but a life that is fulfilling because we are becoming more like Jesus. We can only do this by continuing to allow God to mold and shape and change us.
So, the question is...Are you a silly duck?
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