Key Verse
“But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14 WEB
Lesson
Box turtles, also known as box tortoises, comprise a genus of turtle native to the United States and Mexico. There are currently four recognized species of box turtles: Common, Coahuilan, Spotted, and Ornate box turtle. It’s classified as near threatened which means it’s somewhat endangered due to loss of habitat from human development. Box turtles are popular pets.
Box turtles are private animals who need their space. They hide in brush and burrow into the ground. During the winter when food is harder to find, they will hibernate. They can conserve both food and heat this way. Box turtles often live around 50 years in the wild This is a long lifespan compared to many other animal species.
They feed on invertebrates, such as insects and worms, and lots of fruit and vegetable material including leaves and berries. Some species of box turtle will eat poisonous mushrooms on a regular basis. This makes the turtle poisonous to eat in turn; giving them a defense against predators.1
You may have heard the phrase ‘you are what you eat’. When the box turtle eats plants that are poisonous to its enemies it also becomes poisonous. If we eat healthfully, then we can expect to have good health and avoid sickness. This phrase is especially true for our spiritual diet. If we consume the bread and water of life that Jesus offers in his Word, we will become loving, forgiving, and patient just as Jesus is.
Questions:
How do we consume the water that Jesus offers us?
Do we become what we consume right away?
What are the ‘fruits’ we see as a result of drinking the water Jesus offers?
Sources
1 Boxturtles.com "Box Turtles." N.p., n.d. Web. 19 June 2016.
Written by David F. Garner
Photo Credit: David F. Garner