"See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these." Matthew 6:28-29
Referring to a pair of Canada geese building their nests in metropolitan St. Louis, a newspaper article said: “Unlike many West County residents, Canada geese keep the same mate for life, forming new relationships only when widowed.”
The Bible urges us to learn from lesser creatures -- diligence, for instance: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!” (Proverbs 6:6). Gratitude can be learned, as Isaiah writes: “The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner’s manger, but … My people do not understand” (Isaiah 1:3) – do not understand that God is the giver.
As for caring about the young, is there a better example than a mother bear attending to her cubs? Animals are known to be faithful, like the Skye terrier of Edinburgh, Scotland, named Greyfriars Bobby, who for 14 years stayed at his master’s grave. The city built him a statue.
Faithfulness, diligence, gratitude are qualities we can learn from God’s lesser creatures. Jesus bids us consider the lilies of the field, the birds of the air, even the lowly sparrows, learning from them to trust in God’s providence. Some truths, however, God’s lesser beings cannot teach us – truths about our spiritual well-being. For this we have to turn to the Word of God, to people who can teach us the Word. Saint Paul tells Timothy that his mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, had taught him the faith (2 Timothy 1:5). And where did they find this faith? In “the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). Not only from adults but also from little children we can learn this truth: “Jesus loves me, this I know; for the Bible tells me so.” It takes Christian humility to learn from God’s lesser beings.
PRAYER: Lord God, help me learn the truths to believe and to live by, through all You have said and done. Amen.
(Devotions from "With Jesus Every Day" copyright 1997, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time emailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: Judges 19-21 Luke 16
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