Test your knowledge about penguins
with this quiz!
How many penguin species did you guess there are? Any number between 17 and 21 is correct because even the experts can’t agree! This tuxedo clad species ranges from the 13”, 3.3 lb. Little Blue penguin to the 39”, 100 lb. Emperor penguin.
These birds may not be able to fly, but they sure can swim as they forage for fish, squid, crabs and krill. Spending 75% of their time in water, penguins dive to depths up to 164 ft. and stay submerged up to 20 minutes. Which penguin is the fastest? The Gentoo who swims 22 mph.
WE CAN LEARN FROM PENGUINS!
SO, LET’S DIVE IN & FORAGE!
Just as penguins study their environment adapting their behavior to forage for nourishing food, we can too.
Studying the bible is like foraging for food to nourish our souls. As we discover God’s Word, His love and faithfulness, we adapt our behaviors so that we may live for Him.
The Bible is a rich resource
teaching us how to live life
especially through the example of Jesus.
DIVE IN WITH PRAYER
To dive into the depths of the bible, we first dive into prayer asking for the Holy Spirit to give us revelation. Like the ocean constantly reveals new food for the penguin, the bible constantly reveals new truths to us. It is the book that we can read every day of our life and still learn new things.
Everything in the Scriptures is God’s Word.
All of it is useful for teaching and helping people
and for correcting them
and showing them how to live,
2 Timothy 3:16 CEV
3 WAYS TO DIVE INTO THE BIBLE!
1. DIVE IN TOPICALLY
To dive in topically, select a topic and look up all the related verses. Great resources for topical studies are on-line or printed concordances and topical bibles.
I find studying something I am struggling with
always gives me comfort, strength and answers.
For example:
If I am anxious, I look up verses about fear and anxiety as well as the opposite: peace. Then I apply the next type of study, context, in order to understand how someone who was fearful found peace.
Like Peter in Matthew 14:22-33. Peter was afraid when he saw someone walking on the sea. Yet, when he realized it was Jesus, Peter had the peace and faith to walk to Jesus on the water. He only became fearful again when his focus turned from Jesus onto the storm.
2. DIVE INTO CONTEXT
It’s easy for us to interpret scriptures in modern terms, isn’t it? However, scripture was written in another place and time. So, how can we dive in to correctly interpret it?
For example;
Jesus & His disciples were in Caesarea Philippi, when Jesus said,
And I also say to you that you are Peter,
and on this rock, I will build My church,
and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it,
Matthew 16:18
When we were in Israel, I learned that this was the location where idol worshipers believed the gate to Hades existed. Doesn’t that information bring more clarity and power to Jesus’ words?
As we expand our reading beyond that one verse, we see Jesus establishing who He is amidst this pagan place, (Matthew 16:13-20). Reading entire chapters or books gives more clarity to the story the scripture is telling.
3. DIVE IN AND COMPARE
I imagine penguins compare locations to determine the easiest place to forage food. As we dive in to study the bible, we also will find it is easier to understand something in one translation more than another. So, dive in and compare translations to find the one that feeds you the most.
MOLT
Why does a penguin molt? To replace worn or damaged feathers with new ones. Do you ever feel worn down or damaged by mistakes or others’ actions? Jesus wants to molt away those destructive thoughts replacing them with God’s loving perspective of us.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away;
behold, all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17
HAVE FAITH
Did you know that the male Emperor penguin incubates the egg while the female forages for food? She can be gone for up to 60 days! Even though he can’t see it, the male has faith that the female is working.
Sometimes we can’t see God working either.
LET’S HAVE FAITH LIKE THE PENGUIN
THAT GOD IS WORKING.
REFLECTION
How can you dive in to feed your soul?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write 2 Timothy 3:16 and say it aloud, guide me to understand more of You as I dive into Your word. In Jesus name. Amen.
IN FAITH DIVE IN
Comment!
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*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
Penguin info: wildlifeinformer.com, Smithsonianmag.com, outforia.com, birdwatchingenthusiast.com, Penguinfoundation.org
Photo emperor, memorcatcher
Photo little blue, Joshua Ryder
Photo gentoo, Torsten Dederichs
