From the Zoo to You

Did you know the Bible lists over a hundred different species of animals? That's pretty cool. Animals are used in God's plan many times, like Jonah and the whale, Balaam's donkey, and the donkey that Jesus rode to Jerusalem.

As I was walking in the woods behind our church this morning, I was amazed at all of the creatures around me. We get so caught up in our screens and indoor lives that we forget about the awesome creation that points us to the amazing Creator.

Proverbs is a short book that packs a punch. There are 31 chapters, one for every day of the month. In Proverbs 30, one pastor notices a pattern: "we see the ant with the lesson of preparation, the badger with the lesson of protection, the locust with the lesson on partnership, and the (lizard) with the lesson on perseverance." That's a pretty interesting thought: four different small animals, four different lessons.

The ant gathers up food in good times so that there's enough in bad times. That teaches me that we ought to be wise stewards of what God has given us and not just consume everything we receive.

The badger provides protection and sees for itself, sees danger ahead, and avoids it. That tells me that we need to discern the times that we're in and avoid evil.

The locusts work together to survive and thrive. That teaches me that we need to work together in the body of Christ to get things done, provide for the needs of others, and share the gospel.

A tiny lizard or gecko is defenseless but is agile and flexible enough to squeeze into tiny spaces and make it into king's palaces showing us that we can persevere and keep on going with God.

Think about the example of these little animals today as you follow Jesus!