Issue 1860 – Timid Birds – December 1, 2025

Just outside our front door, a bird feeder hangs. I’ve identified  two dozen (or more) bird species that use it regularly. Underneath that feeder, on a disused water feature that looks like a log, sits a green plant pot.

That pot once held a plant. Seeds from the hanging feeder regularly fall into the pot, and now it’s used as another feeder. The soil level is low enough that the birds can duck beneath the pot rim and hide while they eat.

While any of the birds might stop there, it’s most popular with the smaller birds and more timid species. It’s fun to watch them periodically peek their heads up to check that things are still safe, then disappear again.

It’s not uncommon to see three or four little birds in it, or sitting on the edge at any given moment. There are two species in today’s image. (My apologies, the picture is a little fuzzy. My camera phone isn’t great for that sort of work.)

That feeder reminds me of the call of the gospel. It’s for everyone, but has special attractiveness to the timid and broken. It goes out to people of all cultures and ignores barriers such as education, wealth, skin tone, gender, and economic status.

That call goes out, and when it is answered, the church becomes a place where believers of every sort are unified under the Spirit. 

One true church, regardless of labels, practice, or language.

One true church despite doctrinal differences.

The same Spirit who called “those” people, called you and me. The same Jesus who died for “them” died for us. The same Father oversees it all.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 1  Corinthians 12:12-13

That person you’ve never met, from some place you will never go, who speaks a different language and dresses differently, can be your brother or sister in Christ. What an incredible thought.

What a marvelous moment it will be when all of us, regardless of tongue or tribe, celebrate in worship together. I can hardly wait.

Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

Be blessed, 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word. 

Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.