Chickens Are Good for My Soul!

My David and Haleigh have a small, beautiful mountain homestead with several farm animals. They live with chickens, ducks, dogs, and cats, but my favorites are their chickens. I have learned a few fun facts about a chick's life and have enjoyed watching the new brood on their land.

However, I am drawn to domestic fowl because they remind me of two spiritual principles. Both have marked me as I ponder man's rejection of God and God's response to man. I'll give you the first principle this week. Be sure to check in next Friday for principle number two.

Number one. I often reject Him, but He always reaches for me. He restores me when I allow Him.

I often reject Him but He always reaches for me.

First, I give you Jesus's words when Peter declared his allegiance. Jesus gathered his disciple for the last supper and described His coming arrest and persecution. Peter promised that though others may deny Christ, he would not (Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and John 13 record the full story).

Luke 22: 33-34 reads, "Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day until you deny three times that you know me.”

Then, pick up in verse 54.

"Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then, a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” A little later, someone else saw him and said, "You are also one of them." But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour, another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times. And he went out and wept bitterly."

Friend, I do not know about you, but these verses challenge me because I, too, find myself denying my Lord. I deny Him when I say no to His way and His will. I deny my Lord every time I refuse to obey Him. I, too, have denied Him when I hesitate to share the good news.

I. Can. Relate.

I often wonder how disappointed Peter must have been when his eyes met Jesus's. Luke 22:61 reads, "And the Lord turned and looked at Peter." I can give a look of disgust or anger when someone betrays me. However, I believe that Jesus looked at Peter not with disappointment, disgust, or anger but with His steadfast love and compassion. This is Christ's example throughout Scripture; why would it be any different here? I also read that Peter immediately was sorrowful for what he had done. Therefore, he went out and wept.

Again. I. Can. Relate.

How about you?

So, the rooster is a reminder never to deny my Lord. I can embrace His strength to help me stand, especially when tempted to deny. The rooster challenges me to stand firm in the face of temptations. The bird reminds me that I do not want to deny my Lord.

Fun fact: Do you know some countries use a rooster on church buildings instead of the cross? I saw one in Israel. Also, you can read more on this article. Click Here. The rooster reminds me that we all enter the church family like Peter. We are weak in our own strength. However, because of our Lord Jesus Christ and the power that He only gives, we can stand strong in difficult situations. Peter is a shining example, for he became the rock of the New Testament Church. He was a leader who stood in hardship and trials. He was eventually martyred for his faith. I am moved by his transformation. I want to be like him.

From our trip to Isreal- "The Church of St Peter in Gallicantu"

I am also encouraged by Jesus' reinstatement of Peter. And guess what? He did it three times!!! Read John 21 for the full story, but below is the shorter version.

"When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend to my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me? and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep." John 21:15-18 (ESV)

Could Jesus have asked Peter three times to give Peter three opportunities to state his commitment? I think so. Jesus loved Peter, though Peter had denied him. Jesus forgave Peter. Jesus wanted Peter to forgive himself. He challenged Peter to a fresh start from the failure of the past. Jesus gave him the strength to live it out.

So, yes, chickens are good for my soul. I want to stand strong. I want to be more. I want to be all that God created me to be. And chickens are a good reminder that I can only be strong in His strength, not my own. I shall learn from the chicken but not act like a chicken. How about You?

Chickens are good for my soul.

Next week, I'll share the second reason chickens are good for my soul. If you want a sneak peak, check out Psalm 91.

For now, I leave you with this beautiful pic of my Haleigh and her chicks.

Pics of Chickens are taken from Photographer Haleigh Hogg Seamon.