Dr. Lawrence Butler

The Bridge Church, Pembroke

People love bicycles, especially kids. They ride them to school, in the park, on the playground and even in races. Many adults have taken up the sport to maintain fitness levels. They now have all the protective gear to wear that we never had.

I remember getting my first “big boy” bicycle for Christmas one year. It was a beautiful red one with white fenders on the upper crossbar and a light on the front. I loved it immediately. Sad to say but, being influenced by a neighborhood friend caused me to strip it down and remove the fenders and light. Probably told it would make it go faster. I was ready for a race. In spite of all my efforts I still couldn’t beat my older brother in a race. There was just no way. No one told me that three years and stronger legs couldn’t be overcome by stripping down the bike.

Anyway, we loved those bicycles and rode them often. Living on a dirt road in east Chatham County had its advantages. The time came when we had to move, and that meant relocating into town. Now there were paved roads and much more traffic. By this time my brother and I were quite experienced at riding and did well in the new location. However, we had very loving parents who wanted us to finish high school so new rules were established that clearly identified our riding arena – around the block and on the sidewalk. As all boy-cyclists know, this is not an acceptable arrangement. It pretty much killed our riding enthusiasm. The good part of all this was that we did graduate from high school.

Jesus said in Matthew 23:37, “… how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not.” Just as our parents protected us by limiting our freedom, so the Lord wants to protect you and bless your future. The call of Christ is to take up the cross and follow him (Mark 8:34). Surrender your life and all decisions to God’s will and watch the blessings of the Lord come your way. Psalms 91:1 says, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” There’s no greater place of safety and peace than staying close to God, under the very shadow of God Almighty.