Pastor Perspective

“Crispy Chicken” by Mike Hill, pastor of Calvary Chapel Aberdeen

Just the thought of sinking my teeth into some juicy and hot chicken makes my mouth water.  I love chicken.  I love the 101 ways Chinese restaurants prepare chicken.  I especially love how my wife cooks chicken.  A special birthday dinner of homemade chicken cordon-bleu was set before me the other day.  BBQ.  Fried.  Broiled.  Stir-fried.  Any way you cook it, I enjoy feasting on this feathered fowl!

I read a story of a cooked chicken that did more than provoke hunger.  It touched my heart.  A farmer lost a portion of his farm to fire.  As he surveyed the damage, he suddenly stopped near the chicken coop.  Lying on the ground with wings unfurled was a burned-up hen, face-down in the dirt.  As he slowly turned the hen over with his foot, to the farmer’s amazement, several chicks darted out from beneath the shelter of the hen’s wings.  The mother hen gave her life to save her chicks. 

Speaking to a group of antagonistic, self-righteous religious people, Jesus cried out, “How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!  See!  Your house is left to you desolate” (Matthew 23:37b-38).  Jesus laid down His life on the Cross for us all.  He experienced the fiery wrath of God’s righteous judgment for your sins and mine.  He desires to “gather you” under the shadow of His love, forgiveness, and grace.  Are you willing to respond to Him?

When I consider the appropriate response to Jesus, another story I read this past week comes to mind.  Anna Radosz, from Aberdeen in Scotland, had exciting dreams and plans for her firstborn child.  Six months into her pregnancy Anna slammed with tragic news she wished was just a nightmare.  Cancer appeared.  She was informed that chemotherapy would tackle the cancer.   However, she opted out of treatment to protect her baby.  She recently died.  Anna Radosz gave her life for her child.  Imagine how her son will feel when he begins to understand the sacrifice his mom made so that he would live.  I believe the appropriate response to this tremendous selfless act is gratitude.  Awe.  A sense of purpose for his life.  I imagine his approach as, “Since you died for me, I’m going to make sure my life honors you.”

The Bible says, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).  How ought we respond?  Gratitude.  Awe.  A sense of purpose for our lives.  Every day our prayer can be something like, “Lord Jesus, thank you so much for dying for me, a sinner.  Because You gave Your life for me, today I give You my life.  Transform me to become more like You.  Use my life for Your purpose.”

Next time you eat chicken, you may recall the above story.  Especially when someone accidentally overcooks it.  Rather than just complaining about the burnt chicken, use the opportunity to thank Jesus and get fired up for Him.