Ravens and Doves

     "Then he sent out a raven, which kept going to and fro until the waters had dried up from the earth.  He also sent out from himself a dove, to see if the waters had receded from the face of the ground.  But the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, and she returned into the ark to him, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth.  So he put out his hand and took her, and drew her into the ark to himself."  Gen. 8:7-9. 
     The dove has been a symbol of the Holy Spirit since the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River.  When Jesus was baptized, He saw the Spirit of God descending upon Him like a dove, and a voice spoke out of heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."  Matt. 3:16,17.  The dove is a symbol of rest, purity, innocence, fellowship and peace.  The dove with an olive branch in its beak has long been a symbol of peace.  The dove seeks a quiet place to rest, and is easily alarmed by sudden movements.  The diet of a dove is seeds, which he can store up in his crop.  Doves mate for a lifetime, and the mourning dove is known for its mournful cooing, when a mate is missing or has died.  Jesus said we were to be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves, Matt. 10:16.  Isa. 38:14 says, "...I mourned like a dove..."  The Holy Spirit also seeks a place to rest.  Jesus said, "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever."  John 14:16.  The Spirit of God wants to find a dwelling place in our hearts.  He wants to be our partner for life, and promised He would abide with us forever.  The Spirit brings purity into our lives, and seeks fellowship with us.  He brings the peace of God into our hearts, and guides us into His truth and peace.  Noah's dove was seeking a resting place.  Let our hearts be the resting place for the Spirit of God to dwell.  Let us feed on the seeds of God's Word.
     But what about the raven?  Ravens are common here at our home.  They are meat eating scavengers who will eat your garbage and anything else they can find.  They have often been seen flying away with groceries left in the back of trucks in the grocery store parking lot.  They are very smart birds that scavenge dead animals, or whatever they can find.  They are a symbol of our flesh nature.  Noah's raven kept going to and fro until the waters had dried up.  The flesh is never settled and never satisfied, but keeps going to and fro in search of something more.  The flesh appetite can never be satisfied for long, as it keeps lusting for more and more, and cares little about where it gets its meat.  It's nature is self seeking, and self centered, and always lusting.
     We have been called to walk in freedom from our flesh.  "For you brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."  Gal. 5:13. 
     Make this your prayer today:  "God, dwell in me by Your Holy Spirit, and give me freedom to walk above the lusts of the flesh."