It’s a beautiful thing when people work as a team.
A well-executed series of plays that leads to a touchdown. (Did you watch the Super Bowl?) An orchestra of musicians playing the same composition on different instruments. A platoon of soldiers walking in precision rank and file.
The nature world displays similar examples of teamwork and community. A herd of elephants circles to defend its young against predators. An ant colony scouts for food, nurtures their larva, and protects their home. Dolphins work together to find and capture food.
In the Everglades, after a pod of dolphins uses its echolocation to identify a school of fish, they form a circle around their prey. Fish out of the water are easier to catch, so one dolphin breaks off from the circle and executes a surprise maneuver. Beating its tail hard against the water, it circles the ring of dolphins.
The up and down motion of its tail stirs up silt on the bottom of the ocean, forming a cloudy ring. The fish, startled and confused by the murky water, panic. They leap from the water, right into the hungry mouths of the dolphins.
Within a few minutes, the pod of dolphins swims off with their tummies full of fresh fish.
Even more graceful than dolphins fishing together is the picture of community Paul paints in 1 Corinthians 12.
“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (v. 12-13).
Some are evangelists, Paul says, sharing the good news with the world. Others are pastors, teachers, and preachers. Others give, serve, or pray.
Whatever our gift, he encourages us to use it in tandem with other members of the church to share the good news, and advance the kingdom. When we collaborate, we become God’s hands and feet in the world. Or, in the case of our dolphin friends, the fins and tails. Working together ensures everyone’s needs are met and the world witnesses a beautiful testimony of God’s people doing life together.
When the world looks at your church, what does it see? Lone wolves drawing boundaries around their territories? Or clever dolphins joining forces for the greater good?
What’s your part in the family? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.
And check out this YouTube video to see the hungry dolphins in action.
About Refresh Your Hope,
60 Devotions for Trusting God with All Your Heart
How can you hold on to hope in an uncertain world? Especially when experiencing disappointments, setbacks, and discouragement? In Refresh Your Hope, Lori Hatcher invites you to renew your confidence and courage by calling attention to the remarkably good news—you have a hope greater than you could ever imagine.
An unshakable hope.
In this uplifting, Scripture-driven 60-day devotional, Lori returns to our rock-solid foundation—God’s amazing promises and His faithful character. Each warm, story-based reading will help you grow closer to God as you reflect on His assurances, His generous nature, and His unwavering commitments. Strengthen your prayer life with thought-provoking prompts. Replace anxiety with joy, peace, and trust while encountering Bible truths about the ultimate Source of hope.
Available now on Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, and other fine retailers.
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I like to think I serve many roles within the body of Christ; serving where God presents the opportunity and calls. Sometimes that in a leadership position and other times I’m thrilled to be just one of the team of co-laborers. I think the key is our willingness to serve. If we’ll commit to following the Holy Spirit’s calling, many opportunities are given.