ANTING!

Photo by Marie-Lan Tay Pamart own work, CC 4.0 on Wikimedia.

What?  Never heard of it!  Can you imagine throwing yourself on an ant hill?  Ugh.  Apparently, more than 200 species of birds do just that!  (See photo above of the crow covered in ants).  The ants, as a defensive behavior spray formic acid on the bird’s feathers which acts as an insecticide, miticide, fungicide, or bactericide for the bird.  The birds endure being bitten by the ants for the benefit of the chemical protection they receive from the ants.                                                  

Think about Jesus!!!  Talk about jumping into an ant’s nest.  Jesus endured the Cross!  His ‘ants nest’ included being despised and rejected, stricken and afflicted.  He was pierced, crushed, punished, wounded and oppressed.  (From Isaiah 53).  ‘His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and His form marred beyond human likeness.’  Isaiah 52:14.  He was hung on a cross by nails that pierced His hands and feet.  He didn’t want to do it, but He did it anyway just for you and in obedience to His Father.  He said, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”  ‘An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.  And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.’  
Luke 22:42-44.

Yet, He jumped into the nest ‘For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.’  Hebrews 12:2. 

The joy of pleasing the Father by obedience to His will.  He knew that He would be ‘crushed for our iniquities’, that the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and that by His wounds we would be healed.’

It gave Him great joy because He knew jumping into the ‘ant’s nest’ would give us eternal life! ‘For God so loved the world, (you and I) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed on Him would have Eternal life.’  John 3:16.

And what about us?  Is there an ‘ant’s nest’ in our future?  YES.

The scriptures make this clear. Just like Jesus, we too can find joy in the ‘nest’ because our suffering brings us great blessings.  We will become ‘mature and complete, not lacking anything!’ 

‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.’  James 1:2-4.

Remember, ‘the Lord disciplines the ones he loves!’  Hebrews 12:6.

‘God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.  Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.’  Hebrews 12:10-12.

JUMP IN AND RECEIVE YOUR REWARD!

Click on the following link to watch ‘anting’ in action!

‘Birds Bathing on an Anthill.’