Photo ©2010 and Commentary ©2026 by Chuck Davis
Monday, January 19, 2026
I captured the image for today’s photo parable a couple of days before my birthday in 2010. Olallie Lake is one of my favorite locations for winter camping. Several times I have witnessed River Otters in the backcountry during the middle of winter. Their tracks are often found on steep slopes where they leave glissade paths down a hill and then paw prints bounding back up the hill so they can sled back down again. The pure joy that they display in this activity is a clear indication that God wants his creatures to enjoy life.
In general, we would likely agree that the themes of the Bible are serious business. However, does the Bible ever leave the serious aside? Does it say anything about having fun?
Key Bible Verses Showing People Having fun:
- Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing (Exodus 15:20 NIV).
- And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet (2 Samuel 6:14-15 NIV).
- And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps (Nehemiah 12:27 KJV).
When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. (Psalm 126:1-3 KJV).
And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God” (Acts 3:7-8 KJV).
“But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry” (Luke 15:22-24 KJV).
One of my favorite examples of Jesus having fun and displaying his sense of humor is found in the meaning of the words that he used in Matthew 16:18: “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (NIV). On this occasion, Simon had just acknowledged that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus then told Simon that he would be known as Peter which means “rock,” but Jesus used a play on words, the word that he used for Peter’s name (Petros) means a small stone, perhaps a pebble. When Jesus said on this “Rock” I will build my church the word he used for “rock” was different (Petra) Instead of “pebble, Jesus used the word “petra” meaning “bedrock.” In essence Jesus was saying to Simon, you are a new creature, Peter, a pebble in comparison to the bedrock truth you proclaimed when you acknowledged that I am the Messiah. It is on the foundation of believing in Me, as Lord and Savior, that my followers (disciples/church) will be able to stand. It is fitting that the One who created the river otter to play and have fun and the One who created humans with the capacity to understand words, used words in a playful way to bring a smile to our face. Take another look at our photo for today, you just might imagine a smile on the otters face. Yes, the important messages regarding sin, repentance, salvation, and eternity are weighty matters, but living a life full of joy in the Lord is just as important.