Chicken Sense

Bible Reading: Romans 12:1-2

Grace was helping her mom feed the chickens in the backyard. After she dumped out the dirty water from the water dish and refilled it with clean water, she put the dish back in the chicken coop. When she set it down, some of the water sloshed out. The chickens immediately rushed to drink the water that had splashed onto the ground.

“That’s disgusting!” Grace exclaimed. “Why don’t they just drink the clean water in the dish?”

“The moving water attracts their attention,” Mom explained. “It makes them think it’s better than the water in the dish.”

“I still think it’s gross,” Grace said, making a face. “Chickens just don’t make sense sometimes.”

Mom looked thoughtful as she refilled the feeder. “Maybe not, but the chickens remind me of us.”

Grace frowned. “How are we like chickens?”

“Well, sometimes sin can look like a good thing to us, just like that dirty water looks good to the chickens. Sinning might feel good or be fun for a little while, but in the long run, it’s just going to hurt us.”

“Just like the dirty water will hurt the chickens if they keep drinking that instead of the clean water,” Grace said.

“Exactly,” said Mom. “And look—when the chickens see their friends drinking the water, they want to drink it too.”

Grace watched as more chickens came over to drink the splashed water.

“When everybody seems to be having fun doing something that’s wrong, we need to remember that Jesus has given us something much better,” Mom said. “He died to save us from sin, and He wants what’s best for us. Just like we give chickens clean water because we want to take care of them, Jesus gives us the desire to do what’s right because He loves us. And when we do follow others to the dirty water and drink it, we can admit our sin to Him and He’ll forgive us.”

Grace looked down at the chickens, who were now drinking from the water dish. “At least they’re drinking the clean water now,” she said. “I’ll remember that Jesus helps me do the same thing the next time I’m tempted to go along with what everyone else is doing.” – Julie Kicinski

How About You?

Do you ever want to do something just because everyone else is? Even if you know that thing is wrong? It may seem fun sometimes, but sin will always end up hurting you. That’s why Jesus died on the cross—to save us from sin. Remember that the next time you’re tempted to go along with the crowd and instead, trust Him to help you do what’s right.

Today’s Key Verse: John 14:15 If you love me, keep my commandments. (NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Jesus helps you do what’s right