Having an Eagle Mentality for Alignment to Salvation

By Min. Gilbert Kimumwe – Professional Teacher, Member of KLT, Father, Mentor

In this year of Kingdom Alignment, the youth ministry has set out on quest to understand deeper the theme of the year, as my communication unfolds, I will be deliberating on explaining the Topic of the month (Alignment for Salvation) and our Nature as “EAGLES” ministry. Eagles Ministry is a sub-section under the Young Adults department and it serves as an acronym for Ever Attentive to God’s Leading and Enthusiastically Serving. Yes, that’s who we are! Let’s dissect this EAGLE a bit more. An Eagle, “the bird”, is significant in our understanding of our nature as EAGLES.

Isaiah 40: 29-31 (NIV) He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.

An Eagle has particular qualities that will significantly guide our behavior as youth in the Church. Have you ever wondered why an Eagle was chosen to be an Emblem for most worldly organizations? Take for instance USA, its Court of Arms bears an eagle, which is also part of the seal of the POTUS seal. For Uganda, we have the crane. But despite its unique qualities, a crane cannot come close to qualities of an Eagle. No wonder the USA always wants to be number one! Here’s why the Eagle is our favorite pick;

• Vision: These birds are really super attentive; the focus of an Eagle’s eyes is beyond twice that of a human. Site or Clear vision is a vital aspect in our carrying of our purpose. Vision is not only limited to sight capability but spans all the way to insight. As individuals, we ought to have a clear vision of what we are pursuing and this will help shape our lives towards our key purpose of existence.

Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) “A vision is vital to carrying out God’s will for our lives. And without any revelation of His will, we have no way of creating a Christ-fueled vision for our lives or family”.

If vision has ever been important, now in this dot com era, it is one of the top significance aspects.

• Fearless Hunters: These birds never surrender to their prey. If you’re discerned as lunch, then lunch you’re! 5 course or snack, you’ll be feasted on! Whatever the world is throwing at us at a time such as now, we owe it to our selves to never lose sight of what we are hunting, our all-time goal. Like millennials say today, Heaven is the Goal. This is our core prey as Christians. Don’t let the fancy technology distract you, the end goal for us as Eagles is heaven, not that dream car, not that iphone 13, but heaven! Doing what others think is the right thing when you know its not right is called compromise. Don’t compromise your nature as Eagles!

Philippians 1:27 (MSG) “Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ. Let nothing in your conduct hang on whether I come or not. Your conduct must be the same whether I show up to see things for myself or hear of it from a distance. Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people’s trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they’re up against: defeat for them, victory for you and both because of God.”

• Tenacious Defenders: Imagine for a second, the tenacity of an eagle that goes to the sea, picks out a live fish, grips on it with its claws and takes it up to dry ground for feasting. Tenacity for us as Eagles is the supreme effort of us refusing to believe that our Hero, “GOD”, will be defeated. We ought to be firm in Christ trusting that whatever comes our way, it’s Christ on the throne and we only have to offer Him our full trust. Like we’ve seen people trust fictional characters as supper heroes, our trust in Christ should be even more! Hold on to God and God alone.

Galatians 6:9 (MSG) “So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit.”

In the same vein, we need to build strong relationships. But not just for relationship’s sake, we ought to build relationships where we are accountable to one another. This will greatly keep us committed to things of God.

Revelation 6:10 MSG, “Because you kept my Word in passionate patience, I’ll keep you safe in the time of testing that will be here soon, and all over the earth, every man, woman, and child put to the test”

• Hight Flyers: These birds are surely high flyers. Unlike other birds that seek shelter in times a storm, the Eagle takes on the storm, it goes over the storm. This is resilience, there is no compromise in the life of an Eagle. If you have set out to do good, maintain it! Don’t compromise against all odds.

• Nurture the young ones: These birds start empowering their young ones at a young age. Matter of fact, Eagles do not regurgitate food to feed their young ones. They just bring the food and leave the young ones to feed on their own. These chicks are able to eat a lot and within 12 weeks they are up and flying already. We need to nurture one another to take responsibility and lead the society the right way. We have to walk away from the mentality of entitlement and being spoon-fed.

Deuteronomy 32:11 ESV “Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions – (the outer part of a bird’s wing including the flight feathers)”

• Possess Vitality: Vitality is a state of being strong and active. These birds are able to live up to 70 years. Matter of fact they are know for having a midlife re-evaluation where they renew their strength and nature to live extra 30 years. We need to constantly take a moment of reevaluation. There times when like eagles you need to shed off certain aspects of your life that are not beneficial to you.

Psalm 103:5 ESV “Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

• Eat fresh meat; An eagle never eats stale meat; it is not a scavenger. It only eats the meat from the prey it kills itself. Eagles eat raw and fresh meat; they are not vultures. What a great act of true leadership!

Steer clear of outdated and old information. Do your research well always.
A true leader spends time with people who are vibrant and liberal in thinking, not stale-minded people. You have to be with people who can think, make informed decisions and take actions. These are the people who bring changes to the society. “People you hang around with and the books you read eventually determine the person you become.”