When we were kids, my grandparents always had chickens. I can remember going out to feed them and to collect the eggs and to hold the baby chicks. Fast forward to today, and my brother has built a chicken coop out near where the old one stood. We were out visiting a few weeks ago when he pointed to the woods and said, “Right over there a couple of weeks ago, I saw a fox. I had my rifle with me and thought about getting rid of him before he could do anything to the chickens, but he was so cute, I just couldn’t do it. Two nights later, he dug under the back of the coop and killed four of the chickens.”
Do you see it? (I’ll tell the truth here. It was actually about a week before God tapped on the door in my brain and the ah-ha happened for me.) It happens just like that, doesn’t it? We’ll watch this little TV show or movie. We’ll listen to this song. We’ll talk to that person just… this… once. It’s so cute. It’s so harmless. What can it hurt?
But that’s how the devil works. Before we know it, there are feathers and blood everywhere and it’s too late to prevent the carnage. Makes me think of I Peter 5:8, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
But do you want to end on some good news? Unlike the chickens, all is not lost. Check out James 4: 7-10, “ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
Thank God for grace. Thank God for mercy. Thank God for God!
-JB
Kimberly says
Such a good lesson! I’ve never actually met someone who got a literal fox in their henhouse…
Jodie says
Me neither! That was the crazy part. I had never really thought of it as something that actually happened in real life. 🙂
Jessica R. Patch says
Deep stuff, Jodie! Gave me chill bumps. 🙂 Shiver…
Jodie says
Thanks, girl!