Chickens have given me a great chance to observe instinct in animals. God has pre-programmed chickens toward certain behaviors. A rooster will learn to crow - even though he has never heard another rooster crow before. A rooster will learn to fertilize the hens, even though he has not received any training. Chickens will clean themselves, take dust baths to clean themselves and get rid of mites and bugs.
And the ultimate, in my book, hens will lay eggs. No instruction manual, but inside of their bodies, they form the yolk, surround in with the white, and lastly, surround that with a shell that hardens when it hits the outside air. Why do hens produce delicious eggs? Because they are hens! Very simple, but a great illustration.
The Bible tells us that Christians are to live in the Spirit - to allow the Spirit of God to control their lives, to abide in Christ, and fruit will come. We tend to work at fruit production, read books, make plans, get discouraged if we don't see fruit. But the truth is, if we would let the Spirit rule in our lives, abide in the vine, let the Word of God dwell richly in us - all phrases indicating our submission to God's will & way in our lives, we will produce fruit. Why? Because that is our character, that is what we were made to produce, that is what will naturally flow out of our lives.
Who knew I would learn so much from chickens? I hope my chickens can be an encouragement to you today as well. (Or at the very least, an illustration of God's power at work in our lives)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Colossians 3:16-17
Great illustration!
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