The Duck

The Duck

Bible Blast: Read Romans 8:13-17

Letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

Romans 8:6

Jerry had a buddy that just happened to be a big white duck. He never really named it. He just referred to it as “The Duck.” It followed Jerry all around the yard while he did his different tasks of mowing the grass, working in the garden, or whatever.

One day the Duck was watching Jerry while he filled the lawn mower with gasoline. He accidentally spilled some fuel onto the bird. The Duck was obviously in pain from the gas, so Jerry grabbed it and ran into the house to get the gasoline washed off. He put the Duck in the kitchen sink and used a gentle dish liquid to clean off the fuel and provide relief for his feathered friend. It seemed to work very well.

Jerry was glad to see the Duck feeling better, so to give it a chance to get really rinsed off, he placed it in the swimming pool. Do you know what happened? Jerry had to rescue the Duck because it began to sink!

Do you know why?

God gave ducks an oil that covers their feathers and makes them waterproof. If the oil is taken away (by something like dish soap), the feathers become soaked with water, and the bird will sink. So while Jerry was removing the harmful gasoline from the Duck, he was also removing the necessary oils that enabled it to float.

The Holy Spirit inside of us provides many things. One of those things is protection from living a sinful life. The Spirit warns us when we’re being tempted and gives us the strength we need to “stay floating” and not give in to that temptation. But if you ignore the Spirit’s work in your life too often, eventually it will become very hard for you to hear him at all, and you’ll find yourself sinking down into things you know you shouldn’t do.

God’s Holy Spirit is there to help you and strengthen you. Go ahead and listen to him!

Girl Gab: Can you think of a time when you felt God warning you not to give in to a temptation? Together with your mom, thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit in your life.