Stubborn Jonah Chickens

If the prophet Jonah and I ever got coffee, we’d have a lovely heart-to-heart over all the reasons why obeying the Lord is so hard. I’m a stubborn creature. The Lord says, “follow me,” and I often jog the other way.

I saw a picture of my hard-heartedness this weekend as my husband resurrected the garden.

We have eleven chickens. Each year after dumping and tilling compost into the garden, Ben unleashes them into the garden to munch on last year’s seeds and break up dirt clods. This year, most chickens went willingly. Our kids scooped them up and launched them, flapping into the garden.
 
Four chickens did not accept the will of their masters. My son lured them with corn, my daughters sang to them, and my husband whistled. No success. The strategies turned aggressive. There was squawking, darting, bumping of heads, and creative entrapments with broom handles. Someone probably tripped into the water bucket.

Eventually, dusty and triumphant, Ben and the kids emerged from the chicken coop with four defeated chickens in their arms.
 
A little obedience earlier on, and those rebellious hens would have enjoyed more time chasing juicy bugs and wallowing in the dust.

Foolish chickens aside, our obedience to Jesus is not some inconsiderate dose of authoritative heavy-handedness. Obedience has a purpose.

Without Jesus’ obedience to his Father, there would be no salvation.

Obedience produces kingdom growth and closeness with Jesus. Without obedience, churches aren’t planted. Missionaries don’t go. The gospel isn’t shared on a jobsite or with other parents in the bleachers. Without obedience, we live with aching holes that the gospel and Christian fellowship would otherwise fill.

Don’t be a stubborn Jonah chicken. Follow the Good Shepherd in daily, granular obedience. It’s what we were made to do. It’s where we’re truly happiest.