Natural Instinct

Bible Reading: Matthew 26:41; Ephesians 4:22-32; 5:1-2

“Look at Smoky.” Nolan pointed to one of the family pets, a long-haired cat. “He likes the sun.” A contented purr came from the gray form stretched out on the windowsill.

A few minutes later, Nolan’s little sister Jada came into the room. “Hi, Chipper,” she said. “Do you want out?” She dashed over to the bird cage and opened the wire door. Chipper, the parakeet, glided gracefully to the floor.

“No, Jada!” exclaimed Nolan. “Smoky’s here!” He lunged for the cat, but not in time. A silent, gray shadow slid down from the windowsill, and a moment later Smoky had the bird in his mouth. But Mom was just as quick. She grabbed the cat, held him down, and pried his mouth open. Carefully, she removed the little bird.

“Is Chipper hurt, Mommy?” wailed Jada.

“I think he’s just badly frightened,” Mom said, gently stroking the trembling bird while Nolan shooed the cat out of the room.

“Smoky’s naughty!” Jada declared. “Why can’t he be friends with Chipper?”

“Yeah. He should know better,” said Nolan.

“Perhaps, but it’s a cat’s nature to hunt,” Mom said. “No matter how tame he is, when he sees a bird, his natural instincts take over.”

“Well, I’m mad at him,” Jada said, crossing her arms.

“I don’t blame you,” said Mom. “But he’s actually a lot like us.”

“Like us?” asked Nolan.

Mom nodded. “Christians have an old nature, and it likes to take over too. When we trust Jesus as our Savior, His Holy Spirit comes to live within us, but sometimes we’re careless and let our old natures take over again.”

“Like when you hit me,” Jada said to her brother.

“Well, you called me names,” Nolan retorted.

“I’m afraid those old natures are trying to take control again,” said Mom. “We need to be on guard and remember who we are in Jesus. Because we know Him, we’ve received a new nature with the power to choose to do right and to love others. If we follow our old nature, we will sin. The Bible says to take off the old nature and put on the new. Jesus gives us the power to do that.”

-Trula H. Bensinger

How About You?

Do you let the Holy Spirit guide your actions? Or do you often let your old nature take over and choose to sin? If you know Jesus, your old, sinful nature is no longer a part of who you are, because He has made you new! Let the new nature He’s given you be seen in your life as you choose to love others and do what’s right by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Today’s Key Verse:
Ephesians 4:24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. (NLT)

Today’s Key Thought:

Don’t give in to your old nature