Issue 1224 – Chicken Run? August 17, 2023
When we lived in the Edmonton area, we would take a short drive to the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village about once a year. It was an enjoyable way to spend the day.
The exhibits were interesting, and the costumed interpreters never seemed to break character.
The village is “an open-air museum built to resemble early settlements in east central Alberta. Buildings from the surrounding towns and rural communities have been moved to the Village and depict various years within the first part of the 20th century.”
The residences have time-appropriate gardens (in season) and some livestock. There are also free-ranging chickens at one of the houses. It was that house that came to mind this morning.
A boy, about five or six years old, was delighting in chasing and terrifying the chickens. His parents asked him to stop several times, and each time he did stop briefly and then went right back to doing it. As we went around the corner of the building, I heard a terrified scream.
The little boy ran past us, crying and looking for his mom. Right behind him was a large rooster bent on getting back at the boy. He must have decided that, like the hens, the rooster would run. It was a wrong choice.
I confess that I laughed out loud at the sight earning a glare from the boy’s parents. It probably was not the most compassionate of responses.
Roosters aren’t huge, but they can give you a nasty peck or draw blood with their big spurs. I didn’t want to see the boy get hurt, but it was delightful to see the little bully getting some of his own treatment back. I am guessing he didn’t chase any more chickens that day.
Sometimes, no matter what people tell us, we must learn our lessons the hard way. I have been like that far too often.
I am grateful for the Lord’s patience with me. He continues to work on me and forgive my sin. I have often paid the earthly price for my mistakes, but I know they won’t haunt me into eternity. I cannot out sin God’s mercy. He will always forgive His children.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:7-10
I have met people who tell me that speaking of God’s grace encourages sin. They feel that only God’s wrath should be preached. Now, we need to know about God’s wrath; it is real and terrifying, but wrath without grace is hopelessness. The gospel is a message of hope. We learn of God’s wrath, to be sure, but also of His love and grace.
In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul spoke to the argument about grace “allowing” us to continue sinning.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Romans 6:1-2
What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Romans 6:15
God’s grace and mercy should cause us to stop and consider the marvel of His love and the price paid to buy our redemption. Those things should cause us to stop and run to Him.
We will still continue to sin right up to the point where we go to glory, but we know that it won’t disqualify us from redemption. We may be disciplined by the Lord, and rightly so, but He won’t let go of us. That knowledge should help hold us fast.
Praise God that He never gives up on us, even if we are like little kids chasing chickens.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
__________________________________________
Please like and share this post with friends and your circle of influence. Also, feel free to comment.
Did you know that we have an email version? Same great content but in a different format. Subscribe today https://mailchi.mp/f27bbeb09c22/ gleanings-1
______________________________
All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2023 KF “Kevin” Corbin Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
___________________________________________
#love #peace #hope #Gleanings #theWord #devotional #gospel #death #trinity #encouragement #Biblestudy #faith #dailyBible #verseoftheday #grace #KevinCorbin #god #life #Jesus #faith #grace #wrath #gospel #mercy #forgiveness #UkrainianVillage #Ukrainian #rooster #chickens #1John #Romans6 #Ukraine #freeRange #farm