The Way a Hen Gathers Her Chicks

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The Way a Hen Gathers Her Chicks

In talking to a new mother,  she mentioned her awareness  of a new feeling within her  of being very protective  of her newborn.     Such is motherhood — and that desire  to protect one’s children  never goes away.

We are the children  God has created.     We belong to Him  because He made us.     But,  not everyone chooses  to honor  or respect the Creator  of all things.     Some people get downright belligerent  and rebellious,  wanting nothing to do  with the LORD of lords.     Just as a mother and father  are devastated  when their children turn away  from them,  the LORD God Almighty  is so sad over those  in His creation  who have chosen  to leave Him.

It was with this overwhelming love,  sadness,  and protective feeling  that Jesus spoke  in Matthew 23:37,

O Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,  who kills the prophets  and stones those  who are sent to her!     How often I wanted  to gather your children together,  the way a hen  gathers her chicks  under her wings,  and you were unwilling.

Our heavenly Father  has done everything in love  for us  to keep us safe  in His protective care.     The promise  of a Savior was made  and kept  in Jesus Christ.     All God asks us to do  is repent  of our sins  and turn back to Him,  putting our faith  in the merits  of Jesus Christ  to pay the debt we owe  for our sins.     That shouldn’t be so terribly difficult.     It should be  a welcomed relief.

But,  as Jesus points out,  time and again  a hen deeply desires  to gather her chicks  under her wings  for protection  from storms  and predators.     But,  some chicks are unwilling  to go to their mother  for protection.     Then,  the farmer might find them dead  in the tall grass,  drenched from the cold rain.     Or,  they are just gone,  eaten by a predator.     None of that sorrow  was necessary.

God does not force us  to love Him  or be obedient  to His perfect ways.     We can choose  to run away,  if we want.     And many people do leave  the Lord’s protective care.     They just want  to do things  their way  without anybody telling them  what is right and wrong.      It is just as Jesus said,  those who rebel  against God’s goodness  also kill God’s prophets  and stone those  whom God sends their way,  to try  and straighten them out.

In spite  of all that rebellion,  God still wants  to gather them  under His care.     God gives us  a whole life time  in which to repent  and return  to Him.      But,  if we run away — never to return — we will be lost forever.     Then,  we will end up dead forever,  unable to have eternal life  in Christ — that does mean hell.     We don’t know  how long our life  on earth  will be.

And,  there is no need  to end up like that,  because God’s love  is faithful.     God is always looking for us  to return  to Him.     If we have any sensibility left at all,  we will see  the little reminders  God gives us  all the time.      God does not come  after our hearts  with a sledge hammer.     Instead,  there are little things:   a soft word  from a friend — a picture  that reminds us  of God’s love — a helping hand — something we read — memories of times gone by — a Bible verse  that strangely comes  to mind — a pricking of our conscience  when we know we’ve stepped  over the line.     They are all soft,  gentle reminders  of God’s call  to us.

We have not been forgotten.     God knows  and cares  about our wayward circumstances.     He is waiting  for us  with great patience  and compassion.     Our sinfulness  is a scary place  to be — and very dangerous.     Let us run  to our heavenly Father’s care.

Safe  in our Lord’s everlasting arms,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Abba!     Father!     I did miss You so.     Hold me close  to Your heart  and let me learn  Your ways.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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