There was a young Man who raised a baby chicken from the time it hatched. He tenderly fed the chick by His own Hand. The little chicken attached herself to the young Man. She followed Him wherever He went. He was always kind to the little chick. He helped her over rocks and kept predators away.
One day the young man walked through a farm yard. The little chicken followed closely behind Him. They walked by a flock of chickens. The little chicken was immediately absorbed in looking at the other chickens. She noticed everything about them. Her eyes eagerly recognized beauty and plainness. She realized she could observe which had defects and which had battle wounds. She was fascinated with her ability to compare the chickens with others and with herself. Details about the various chickens caught her eye and her interest. She felt she was gaining valuable knowledge by observing and analyzing each chicken. Comparing the chickens gave her knowledge which she enjoyed immensely.
One day the little chicken lifted her eyes to find her young Man. He was gone. She ran to the farmer to ask where He was. The farmer replied, “He has been gone for years, Little Hen.”
Sadly, the little chicken sat down beside the road. She refused to look at another chicken again as she kept her eyes on the road and waited for her young Man to return.
- Hebrews 12:1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.3Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.