Psalm 36:7 – How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. (NKJV)

Before we moved into town just over five years ago, we lived on four acres of land on the outskirts of town. For many years, one of my hobbies was having homing pigeons and several kinds of chickens. They gave us eggs, they ate all our kitchen waste, and I enjoyed raising young chicks. Bantam hens in particular are very good at raising young ones. They are very diligent about staying on the eggs until they hatch, and they are excellent mothers. They protect their young at all times. As a matter of fact, if I got too close to them and their chicks, they would attack me.

I recently came across the following story about a hen and her chicks. When they were very small, the hen would have all her chicks under her wings during the night. One night, for some unknown reason, the henhouse burned down. In the morning, the owner was poking around in the ashes to see if perhaps there was anything of value left, when he heard some little chicks peeping. Then he saw the little group huddled together in a corner of the burned-down shed. During the night, the hen had protected the chicks from the fire, covering them with her body and her wings. The hen died so that her chicks would live.

Luke 13:34-35 – O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! (NKJV)

When Jesus lamented over Jerusalem, He looked at the city in the distance and His heart was broken. He had tried so hard to convince the people there to believe in Him, but He knew that He would be rejected, despite His love for them being like that of a hen for her chicks. But I think that He also cried for those in future generations who wouldn't accept Him as Saviour and Lord.

Later, when He was nailed to the cross at Calvary, He gave His life for you and for me, and by that act, we are offered protection by His wings of grace from the fires of sin and eternal death. May we all be willing to accept the shelter that He offers!

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we thank You that Your Son Jesus gave His life so that we may live. We offer this prayer in His name. Amen.

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About the author:

Joel Jongkind <austria67@bmts.com>
Meaford, Ontario, Canada
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