In 2011, a Brazilian fisherman came across a struggling penguin. The tiny creature’s feathers were soaked with oil and it desperately needed food. So the man took the sickly bird home and cared for it. Once it was healthy, he released it and the bird swam happily away.
Two months later, however, the penguin paddled back! And since then, the bird, nicknamed Dindim, has swum thousands of miles each year to visit the retiree—spending eight months with him before returning to the coasts of Argentina and Chile. The man, who says that Dindim grows more affectionate with each visit, declares, “I love the penguin like it’s my own child and I believe the penguin loves me.”
The author of Hebrews wrote that loving relationships between us and other believers in Jesus is a way for us to show our love for God. “You have shown your love to him by caring for other believers” (Hebrews 6:10).
Like the Brazilian fisherman, our compassionate care reveals a genuineness of faith in and love for Jesus as we “keep on loving others as long as life lasts” (Hebrews 6:11; 1 John 3:16-20). This translates from the original language to literally mean showing the same eager commitment. And committed “faith and endurance” marks true believers who tenderly care for others—all out of love for God (Hebrews 6:12).
It can get sticky at times and be downright difficult as people struggle with the slippery, gritty, pervasive ways of sin, along with spiritual starvation due to poor choices. But, just as Jesus has so richly poured out love and compassion on us, may we continue reaching out by the “power that comes from God” (Ephesians 3:18-19).
We love God by loving His children as if they’re our own.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Genesis 12:1-9; 17:1-8
More:
Read 1 John 4:7-8 and think about what it reveals when we show a lack of love toward other believers in Jesus.
Next:
Who needs your committed, enduring love today? How has God equipped you to love others well?
BearPair on January 9, 2017 at 2:18 am
Good stuff Tom–THANKS! Reminiscent of Francis Schaeffer’s conscience-pricking little book, “Mark of the Christian.”
Tom Felten on January 9, 2017 at 3:22 pm
Thanks for sharing that title, BearPair!
godlove on January 9, 2017 at 4:10 am
Very nice story to start the week, Tom, thank you for sharing. I’m not a cynic but it makes me wonder on the chances that a person would have responded like the penguin did to the love and care shown by the fisherman, or whether they would have just swum off and adieu! Some animals have a way of responding to love which is quite peculiar, almost like children do, they do not calculate or complicate things, they just return the love shown to them purely and simply, no second thoughts. It’s so true that showing love towards others is a great way of reflecting God’s love in our lives. I’m a little bit puzzled by one aspect from the passage and the devotional though, why the focus on showing love particularly towards other believers in Jesus, when Jesus Christ Himself teaches us to love everyone, even those who hate us; Matthew 5:46-48 “If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that…” Blessed week to everyone.
gagirllive on January 9, 2017 at 8:06 am
Lol…so true, godlove. It looks like animals are better lovers than we are! Blessed day, dear brother.
Monica Brands on January 9, 2017 at 2:22 pm
Great insight, godlove, thanks for raising that question. Tom may respond more in depth than I can, but I think the devotional in connection with the text’s emphasis is highlighting the unique bond that we share with others who share God’s Spirit, there really is a uniqueness to the bond shared with others in the family of God. Unlike other strong relationships like physical family, etc., the bond we share with other believers is based on a foundation in Christ. Through Him, we see other believers as our brothers and sisters, our new family, which allows for uniquely intimate care and fellowship. And yet, the strength of that bond does not mean we do not love others outside that family, even our enemies, “as ourselves.” Those outside of Christ are also starved for the kind of relationships of unconditional love that are only possible through the unity of the Spirit. When we pour our hearts into unity within the family of believers, it can also invite them in. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). And we are indeed called to be missional, to be intentional about extending the kind of unconditional love cultivated within Christian communities. I know I’ve read a lot of conversion stories where the person came to Christ through being welcomed into a family of faith and being so moved and impacted by the unique love there–love that they were freely invited into. Does that help?
Tom Felten on January 9, 2017 at 3:28 pm
godlove, as Monica stated, I believe that—in the Spirit—believers in Jesus share a special relationship of love based in God Himself. We are, however, to love all people and that includes our neighbors! (Matthew 22:37-40).
godlove on January 10, 2017 at 1:32 am
It does help, Monica, thank you for your clarification, I really appreciate it. And thanks for your response as well, Tom.
dondavis777 on January 9, 2017 at 6:18 am
I must decrease that He would increase. It takes Jesus through me to love others unconditionally. Oh Lord Jesus help me to Love others. Give me a new heart in Jesus name I pray.
gagirllive on January 9, 2017 at 8:55 am
Amen, dondavis777. Unconditional love is only possible through Him!
Tom Felten on January 9, 2017 at 3:30 pm
dondavis777, where would we be without God’s love having touched our hearts? May the Holy Spirit fill our hearts to overflowing with His love for others!
Gary Shultz on January 9, 2017 at 7:11 am
Hi Tom: Unconditional love on an unassuming bird. I guess we could take a lot of different paths and angles on this, but my difficulty is to see the bird that needs attention in an ocean of birds. This one was easy one bird, one ocean, one man. Most times I need God’s eyes to see a person who needs help. A path to cross, a happening that brings us together. It is not extremely difficult to see hurting people as they flood into an ER, but most times the wounded soul is not as easily seen. I must fall back on God’s direction and most times a little prodding to meet a situation. May our path be lead by God, that it will bring us an opportunity to love as Christ loved us. Thanks Tom, still doing well?
gagirllive on January 9, 2017 at 8:22 am
I’m with you, Gary, on being able to recognize those hurt “birds”. It requires a sensitive and discerning ear as we pray for guidance from the Spirit. I find that people express hurts and needs in their conversation all the time. Sometimes they even try to cover it up through a joke. But when I listen carefully and prayerfully, I hear it. And there’s my opportunity to express my faith through love. Always encouraged here by you, BWO. Blessed day to you.
Monica Brands on January 9, 2017 at 2:29 pm
I love the way you phrase this important reminder, Gary! Yes, I think it can be easy to assume we are extending love to others, but if we are not intentionally seeking wisdom from God to discern others’ pain and how to care for them well, we can so easily fail to show the kind of love that is so needed in that situation.
Tom Felten on January 9, 2017 at 3:35 pm
Good comments, all. And yes, Gary, by God’s grace I’m well. Thank you for showing Christ-like love and concern to me in your question! And I’m with you, we truly need the Spirit’s wisdom and insight to not only see the “birds” that need to be loved, but to remain close to them even when our efforts to show God’s love to them are initially rebuffed.
gagirllive on January 9, 2017 at 8:50 am
Tom, I recognized your “handwriting” on this right away. I think you write about loving others more than any of the writers. That’s very telling. When we get to heaven, I think you and the apostle John will be very good friends. 🙂 This is a great exhortation today because it’s easy to forget that my love for God is revealed in the context of my relationships with people, especially those who are my spiritual family members. As an introvert, I could spend all day enjoying Him alone. How spiritual I would be! NOT! 🙂 And that’s definitely not God’s plan. We need people and people need us. And as hurt and dysfunctional as we all are, God has called us into community to reflect His love to one another and to the world. Sure wish it were as easy (the giving and receiving) as with that penguin though. 🙂 Thanks for this, Tom. Blessed day to you.
Monica Brands on January 9, 2017 at 2:40 pm
Love this gagirllive, and agreed about Tom! 🙂 I also appreciate your reflections on loving others within the context of an introverted personality :). I think part of what’s beautiful about Christian community at its best is that there is an unconditional acceptance there that gives space for such amazing diversity. We don’t enjoy time together because we all share the same interests, or are all extroverts or all introverts, all come from similar backgrounds or opinions, but because we have all experienced God’s unconditional love for each of us.
I think sometimes Christian community fails to be the beautiful picture you and Tom describe, and that’s painful, but I’ve also experienced how incredible it can be when it truly does display the love of God. I think I’ve experienced something similar to this little penguin myself – I speak sometimes of a family that welcomed me into their home after college when I needed a place to rent. But instead of treating me like a tenant, they treated me like a family member, inviting me to all family gatherings and giving me gifts at Christmas just like everyone else. I think at one point I hesitantly objected to such lavish treatment, uncomfortable with it and reminding them they were not obligated to treat me just like family, and was sternly reminded that anyone who is part of the family of God is part of the family.
Tom Felten on January 9, 2017 at 3:42 pm
Monica, what a beautiful picture you painted of your relationship with that caring family who invited you into their home. I have a sneaking suspicion you blessed you as much as they blessed you!
gagirllive on January 9, 2017 at 8:55 pm
Beautiful example you’ve shared here, Monica! You were very blessed to have such an experience. So often my heart is heavy because I know we should be doing a better job at demonstrating this love. People are hurting and longing for this “family love”. And yes!…I love the diversity of personalities within the Body too. It took me a lot of years to find and embrace my place in the family as an introvert. 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Monica.
godlove on January 10, 2017 at 2:18 am
Great story, Monica, thanks for sharing. That is a great example of what Christian sharing of love should look like. Your story also makes me understand all the more how much stronger the bond of love in the family of God can be, especially when compared to the love you may show to an unbeliever.
Tom Felten on January 9, 2017 at 3:40 pm
Good thoughts, GG! If we choose to stay away from others it can be “safer” in the short run, but we miss out on so much—the sharpening, comfort, and wisdom that can flow from other believers in Jesus. They truly need the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given us, and we need theirs.
godlove on January 10, 2017 at 2:10 am
Hi GG, my kindred spirit friend once again, I am generally introverted myself (except with people whom I already know well) but unlike you, I can’t say I have really found how to fit in totally within the community of believers. Rather, I’ve created my own comfort zone where I don’t necessarily need to interact fully with others to participate and enjoy in the fellowship. I know this is not the most appropriate way but like you remarked, it’s not as easy as with the penguin. Like Gary said, above, there was one ocean, one penguin, one man, quite easy even for someone like me to handle, not so easy when you have a sea-full of penguins and men. I think I may have just stumbled upon a new personal objective for this new year!
gagirllive on January 10, 2017 at 7:20 am
Here’s a great book that I would like to recommend to you, friend, if you can get access to it. Introverts in the Church: Finding Your Place in an Extroverted Culture by Adam S. McHugh. I think it’ll encourage you to see just how valuable our personality type is to the Body. 🙂 Be blessed.
godlove on January 11, 2017 at 1:38 am
Thanks for directing me to that book, sister. I’m not too sure yet about getting access to it but I have noted the title and I’ll see whether I can find it somewhere, somehow. Thanks again for sharing 🙂 Love and grace to you.
pilong56 on January 9, 2017 at 12:16 pm
Dear odb/odj:I wanted pray for these friends who happened to be my next door neighbors just passed away,meaning to start with Mr.William Dougherty.Senior just had a
heart attack,and some leg gangrene and my next door neighbors happened to be my friends of mine who also had a same heart attack even for Dimitria Mano who happened
to be my next door neighbor,the same thing just happened to Mr.Sowder who happened to my friend of Dr.Yung Park Jr.I’ll remember our late father who also had
a Metastatic Prostate Cancer and his late brother Park Sung Suh also had ALS which is short Lou Gehrig’s disease. My favorite verse from the pauline epistle comes
from Philippians 14:16 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.Love,Liebe,Sarang,Amore,
Bobby.Park
Monica Brands on January 9, 2017 at 2:42 pm
So sorry to hear of all the loss you have recently experienced. We’ll lift up a prayer for you and everyone grieving the loss of a loved one to experience His love and strength within their pain.
Tom Felten on January 9, 2017 at 3:47 pm
Praying for you, Bobby, and for others who knew the people you mentioned. May God’s comfort fill your hearts today (2 Corinthians 1:2-4).
pilong56 on January 9, 2017 at 4:36 pm
I would like to say thanks for praying for the late friends of which I’ve already had and thanks for praying for our late two brothers who already had some metastatic prostate
cancer which cannot be cured and his late brother who already had als short for Lou Gehrig’s Disease meaning our late father a long life than his late brother Park Sung Suh
who already had Lou Gehrig’s Disease which may shortened his life,but still we may have to pray for those who already passed away .I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me which comes from Philippians 4:16
Love,
Bobby.Park
pilong56 on January 9, 2017 at 7:31 pm
Meaning the bible verse often comes from the MacArthur Study Bible right from the Pauline Epistle of Philippians 4:12.I’m very sorry for making any mistakes,I’d like to
say thanks praying for the late friends I’ve ever had Tom.
Sincerely,
Bobby.Park