Gentleness as a Response - The Dove - The Character of Creatures

This is a chapter from the book The Character of Creatures: What the Animal Kingdom Teaches Us About God and His Word.

Gentleness as a Response – The Dove

Another bird that God loves to use as an illustration is the dove. Doves are peaceful birds that don’t attack or harm. If you get close to a dove’s nest, they will freeze in hopes that their camouflage will save them, unlike other birds that might attack you or flee or pretend to be wounded to draw you away.

God sent his Holy Spirit to descend on the baptized Jesus in the form of a dove, and us into the world as doves:

Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. ~ Matthew 10:16

Discussion:

1.      Jesus did not say we would be treated as doves, rather we would be in great danger. Read Paul’s list of dangers in 2 Corinthians 11:23–28. Should we consider something strange is happening to us when we face trials? Or should we be wise and innocent when the kingdom of the world wars against Christ’s kingdom?

2.     Psalm 44:22 says, “Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” God cares mightily for his church, but he also calls us to return blessing for cursing and to pray for those who persecute us. A dove does not defend itself, and in so doing it glorifies its creator. Can you do likewise?

3.     Jesus prayed for those who crucified him, and some were saved that day, more over the next fifty days, and billions over the next millennia. Christians blessing their persecutors has brought much fruit throughout history. Can you think of anyone who came to Christ because of a martyr? Consider looking up the story of Jim Elliot and Grandfather Mincaye.

The earth has been filled with the blood of the martyrs as with seed, and from that seed have sprung the crops of the church. They have asserted Christ's cause more effectively when dead than when they were alive. They assert it today, they preach him today; their tongues are silent, their deeds echo round the world. ~ Augustine of Hippo