Chickens are a common sight throughout many countries I visited on mission trips. It is common to see them running around yards in the city and in the country. The sight of crates full of chickens loaded on the back of motorbikes stirs up laughter. And I even occasionally enjoyed them served on my dinner plate. The funniest encounter occurred in Argentina when I came across a chicken as a guard “dog” at a home.
On one trip to Kenya, I heard about a new restaurant that served fresh chickens. Intrigued by the description, we decided to check it out. The road trip took us down long dusty trails that masqueraded as roads. Enormous potholes caused the car to swerve and bounce wildly. My bones rattled from all the jarring. Would the journey be worth it?
Hebrews 4:13 “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
As we entered the establishment, I caught sight of a large outdoor dining area surrounded by large, old Baobab trees. A long table, under the shade of the trees, beckoned us to sit and relax. The waiter arrived to explain the restaurant’s technique of preparing a meal. He instructed us to pick out a live chicken. Once selected, the poor little critter went to the kitchen to be beheaded, plucked and cooked. We all cringed at the thought. I liked my chicken fresh, but this might be a little bit too fresh. This process seemed like it might take several hours. So, we opted for something less gruesome and a little faster.
[bctt tweet=”God started to pluck feathers away. One by one, He exposed the sins I hid.“]
Eventually, during another trip, I watched the full process of preparing a chicken for dinner in Kenya. From the catching of the bird to cooking it over an open fire. The once beautiful feathers that made the bird unique plucked away, so only its nakedness was left. The method of watching the chicken go from running around the yard to a lump of breast meat on a plate saddened me slightly.
1 Corinthians 4:5 “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.”
I found myself relating to these birds in several ways. Early in my walk with Christ, I ran around as part of the world. I strutted about while hiding the real me under my brightly colored plumage. I preened and fluffed my feathers in the solemn hope that even God would not see the ugly lump of meat, which lay below. But, the verse from Hebrews 4:13 taught me otherwise, “Everything is uncovered and laid bare before Him.” As the words of the verse sunk in, God started to pluck my feathers away. One by one, He exposed the sins I hid, but Instead of serving me on a plate, God redeemed me for all eternity. He revealed my sins so that I could change my ways and continue to walk with Jesus.
We all try to hide our sinful nature from God. He sees those things in our life that we seek to disguise under a layer of beauty. Confessing the sins to God will allow Him to wash them away. Return to Him, and He will cover us with His grace.
[bctt tweet=”God sees those things in our life that we seek to disguise under a layer of beauty.“]
Blessings,
Yvonne – #blogger, #speaker, and #author
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
I love this post. It was interesting how you paralleled the verses and stories. I felt like I was in the car with you, travelling to the restaurant. I don’t think I could have picked out a chicken either. I love how God is patient with us, sanctifying us bit by bit and loving us even when we try to hide under our feather.
Thanks.
True that we try to hide our sins from God. I am thankful He knows the true me and my true heart. He forgives me for my sins. Great message.
I appreciate your thoughts
As a people pleaser this strikes a nerve. I tend to hide behind my abilities, my charisma, whatever. But God, in his faithfulness is peeling away the layers of my performance and calling me to be his son. No performance required. Just be still and be his son. Thanks for the good post, Yvonne.
Thanks for the comment
You are a voice of truth. Thanking God for voices of truth.
Thank you.
What a fun but interesting post, Yvonne! And such a great analogy. I’ve been to Kenya, yet, sorry to say I never had the “chicken” experiences you did. I missed out on a log. 🙂
Like this, “Early in my walk with Christ, I ran around as part of the world. I strutted about while hiding the real me under my brightly colored plumage.” Oh, how I relate to that.
Thanks Karen. If you plan to go back to Kenya, I can send you the name of the place, lol. Thanks for sharing your thoughts too.
I have honestly never thought of it this way. My dad raised chickens for years so we have helped with the beheading and plucking. It was just a fact of life, because it saved money on the processing fees if we plucked them ourselves. But I still love the way you related plucking feathers to God uncovering our sin. So often it’s like that. We cling to our sins, when God is just trying to unearth our true beauty.
Amen Heather
I love these stories and how you intertwined them!
Thank you
This is so moving, Yvonne! We are just like those chickens – I know I am – strutting around, preening, admiring my beautiful feathers that cover the awful hidden lump of meat. Thank God for his grace and mercy that skillfully pluck us clean and expose the parts that need cleaned and refined. Thank you for these beautiful and purifying words today.
Amen
I love this analogy! I’m always looking to find ways to connect the ordinary with God, and you did just that here! I actually just got back from a mission trip to Kenya, so I enjoyed reading that you’ve been there a few times!
Where in Kenya did you visit. We worked in Kisumu area for almost ten years. Part of my heart is still there even though we work in SE Asia area.
Dear Yvonne!
Your description of the restaurant visit sounded a lot like some restaurants we have back home in the Philippines 🙂
With love!
Edna Davidsen
Thanks Edna. Someday I will go there and check it out.
You should do that 🙂