232 - How much does God love us?

Wording of this Handout:

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Once upon a time there was a farm, which was in the middle of a wide, flat plain, where long, dry grass grew. On the farm there was a farm house, some sheds, some animals, and a hen with several chickens. Every day the hen would go walking about, with her chickens following. . . and one day she went into the long grass.

When she was quite a distance from home she noticed some smoke. Because she was taller than her chickens, she was the only one who could see the fire approaching. She told her chickens to run with her, back to safety.

But one chicken didn't believe. It said "I see no fire! I think there is no danger! I'm staying here!"

The mother hen didn't want to leave the chicken to die, so she called all her chickens to her and spread her wings. The rebellious chicken walked away, saying "If there really IS a fire, I will be able to run away by myself!"

The fire swept through, roaring and crackling. When it was passed, the farmer came walking, and he found one dead chicken, and one dead hen, but under the charred wings of the hen all the chickens were still alive!

Jesus took all the fire of God's anger against sin, and died for us. But we must shelter under Jesus' wings.

The Bible says: "For God has not appointed us to wrath (anger), but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." I Thessalonians 5:9 (King James Version)