Straying from the Lord

Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. NKJV

 

A few years ago on a Spring Turkey Hunt in Colorado County I slipped into the edge of a field and could see two nice gobblers with a group of hens. They were out of shotgun range, but it didn’t matter, the field was on someone else’s land and off- limits. If I would have moved to get into the right position when they crossed the fence the flock of turkeys would have spotted me for sure. So I backed into the woods and hid in the shadows, where I could still see the turkeys, and waited for an opportunity. After an hour of watching, the biggest gobbler began strutting amongst the hens and the subordinate gobbler strayed away from the group. Now was the moment I had waited for and I let out a series of calls on my old Quacker box caller. The wandering Tom looked my way and went into a full strut. After one more call, the gobbler turned full circle and headed my way. The sweet hen music from the old box call was too much of a temptation for the gobbler. The Tom left the field, crossed the fence, and was now legally in my range. He walked well within shotgun range, and I had a nice three-year-old gobbler to carry home. It was a good day for me because it was my first Gobbler ever, a nice 9 inch beard, but a very bad day for the Gobbler.

 

Do you belong to a flock of some type? As Christians, we are all members of the Body of Christ and should gather often for praise and worship. Hebrews 10:25 says not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Being a member of a local church’s congregation is a great place to start. Have you ever wandered from your flock? It’s not a good place to be. Isaiah 53:6 says that all we like sheep have gone astray and we have turned, every one, to his own way. This is true for all of us at one time or another. Don’t get away from your groups; don’t cross the boundaries the Word of God has laid out and written on our hearts. Remember this: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, 1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV). If you find yourself wandering, turn around immediately and run with all your might—back to the flock. They’ll welcome you.

 

Patience is key to bagging a gobbler. If you encounter a group of turkeys with more than one gobbler, sit back and wait for an opportunity. ‘Read’ the flock. If you see one of the gobblers get any kind of distance from the others, give him a series of calls. Call conservatively at first and if there is no reaction, try aggressive cuts and yelps.