The Magpie Incident

(This is a sermon I preached some years ago. The story is true, and I think, rather amusing.)

We gave the cats their usual dog food feast one Sunday AM and they are all gathered
around eating industriously (since I didn't feed them at all the day previous) and here comes a magpie (that's a big, black and white bird, son) and it is hopping around on the ground right next to the cats.
Are you following this?? Cats - a bird. What would you think might happen? Didn't
happen.
This bird is (I guess) after some food his own self, and there he is walking around a bunch of cats who are hungry and do they pay him one ounce of attention? Nope.
They were consumed with consuming that dog food.
We were in the car driving out of the driveway, and I'm yelling at the cats (like they could hear me - and if they could hear me, like they could comprehend what I was saying), "Fresh meat! There's a bird! Kill it! Eat it! What is wrong with you??"
Crazy cats. Here's six cats, here's one bird. That bird was either as stupid as the cats, or he was one tough bird -I think he had a "No Fear" t-shirt on!
Just between me and you - if I have a choice between dog food and magpie, I'm going
for the magpie!!
Now, there really isn't anything necessarily wrong with dog food - if you're a dog. But a cat should eat cat food , not dog food. Food that is made for a cat. When a tasty dishlike a big, juicy magpie comes around, certainly a cat should jump right on it! The problem was, that the cats were so involved in that dog food, that they didn't even noticethe magpie hopping around. They were so hungry (having not been fed the previous day) that they jumped right into the first thing that looked and smelled good. They didn't take into account whether it was appropriate or not. They didn't take into account whether they could do better or not. You see, if they refused to eat dog food, I would buy them cat food. In fact, there is the reason they get dog food. They wouldn't eat the cat food that I was buying for them. They will eat the dog food. It isn't like I won't give them what is good for them, what is made for them, what is best for them. Because I will — if they will accept it. It they will leave the dog food and eat the cat food - or the magpie.
Have you noticed yourself in this story yet? I sure see me. I certainly see many people in this magpie incident. Now, hold on. I'm not nuts. Stick with me.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD , thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:37 AV)
First, notice that God would like to do good things for us. He loves us! He has our best interests at heart. He isn't out to do us harm. And, since He is all wise and all-knowing, and He is outside of time, so He sees the big picture that we can't, His way is the way we should be going! Go for the magpie instead the dog food.

Isaiah 31:1
Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord!

Now look at this. The Israelites were going to Egypt for military assistance,
instead of to God! All they could see was the dog food of horses, chariots,
and horsemen. They thought that because that dog food was numerous,
and very strong, that it was the way to go and they went for it with gusto! They failed to notice the magpie hopping around beside them!

15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. 16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. 17 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill. (Isaiah 30:15-17 AV)

God offers them return and rest; quietness and confidence, and THEY WOULD NOT!! God offers you return and rest; quietness and confidence.

Choose the magpie, lose the dog food.

Here we are, scratching around in the dirt of the world, eating dog food,
because, maybe, we haven't properly nourished our relationship with God,
and so the first thing that comes along and looks spiritual, we jump on it.
Just like a hungry cat jumping into that dog food.
Or, maybe, because we don't trust God to take care of us, or we don't really
believe that He is powerful enough so we turn to what is popular (those
numerous horses and chariots), or we do what seems to be the most
efficient, effective, easiest, etc. (Those very strong chariots).
We've gotten so involved in the human, fleshly stuff, that we don't even notice that God is standing next to us, just waiting to supply our needs, to bless us spiritually, to show is the next step in our life, to show us the way we need to go, to give us guidance in that important decision, to comfort us when we are hurting, to be a companion when we are lonely, and so many other things that He would do for us, but we, like the citizens of Jerusalem, "would not."