The Story of the Caged Chickens

My children, listen to me. Listen to your father's instruction. Pay attention and grow wise, for I am giving you good guidance. Don't turn away from my teaching. Learn to be wise, and develop good judgment. Don't forget or turn away from my words. Don't turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you. Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And whatever else you do, get good judgment. My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. I will teach you wisdom's ways and lead you in straight paths. If you live a life guided by wisdom, you won't limp or stumble as you run. Carry out my instructions; don't forsake them. Guard them, for they will lead you to a fulfilled life. Pay attention, my child, to what I say. Listen carefully. Don't lose sight of my words. Let them penetrate deep within your heart, for they bring life and radiant health to anyone who discovers their meaning. (Proverbs 4:1-2; 5-7; 10-13; 20-22, NLV).

I read a story several years ago about some chickens that had been bought from a poultry farm. They were chickens who had lived their entire lives in a cage. They were taken out to a ranch and turned loose to freely run in the yard and go in and out of the chicken house at will. As they were placed on the chicken house floor they didn't move. They had lived in cages all their life so they just stayed right in the chicken house. They didn't even know how to roost. They didn't even get up on the roost at night. They stayed huddled together on the floor. They were used to sleeping under a light because the poultry farmer kept a light lamp on them to make them lay more eggs. Men have devised ways to get the most out of everything, no matter if it's good for the animal or not. Because they were used to the light, they would sleep outside huddled under the moon on the ground. They didn't even know how to drink water the regular way because they had drunk water out of a little bottle with a little red tip on it. They had always gone over and pushed that little tip and gotten their water out. There they had fresh running water yet they didn't even know how to drink. One of them almost drowned trying to learn how to drink. These chickens didn't know what freedom was. I don't know if they would have ever enjoyed their freedom without someone to teach them what to do. Since there were some older chickens that were already there, the new ones watched them for awhile and they discovered a new way of living. Living with the older chickens for a time and learning from them they got liberated. They found out that they could go anyplace in the barnyard. But it took them a while.

Humans are very much the same. We are creatures of habit. We don't realize it, but we do things out of habit. Sometimes God wants to break old habits and old things in our life. Many Christians bring them over into the Christian walk. God begins to show us a better way, as our old habits are not fit for God's kingdom or His house. Even when we find ourselves changing the direction of our behavior from the negative to the positive, that is not God’s way. God is saying to us consistently in the Scripture that He now wants to show us a new way. That way is by faith, walking in the Spirit and trusting God to continue the work He has begun. He gave us everything we need to live the life of heirs to the Kingdom. This is the heart of the gospel. Why don’t you focus on what Jesus has already done for you instead of what you need to do for Him today!