WORLD'S SMALLEST FISH DISCOVERED

February 1, 2006

God is really creative with both the big and the SMALL!

THINK ABOUT IT

tiny fish

Maurice Kottelat / AP

Paedocypris progenetica, which lives in an acidic peat swamp, is shown in this photo released by the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research.

WORLD'S SMALLEST FISH FOUND IN INDONESIA

BANGKOK, Thailand - Scientists have discovered the world's smallest fish on record in an acidic peat swamp in Indonesia, with a see-through body and a head that is unprotected by a skeleton, researchers said Wednesday.

Mature females of the Paedocypris progenetica, a member of the carp family, only grow to 7.9 millimeters (0.31 inches) and the males have enlarged pelvic fins and exceptionally large muscles that may be used to grasp the females during copulation, researchers wrote in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, published Wednesday by the Royal Society in London.

"This is one of the strangest fish that I've seen in my whole career,' said Ralf Britz, zoologist at the Natural History Museum in London, who helped analyze the fish's skeleton. "It's tiny, it lives in acid and it has these bizarre grasping fins. I hope we'll have time to find out more about them before their habitat disappears completely."

photo & story courtesy AP & msnbc.com, 01/25/06

TAKE A LOOK

Psalms 104:24-30 - (NLT)

      ²⁴O LORD, what a variety of things you have made!

            In wisdom you have made them all.

            The earth is full of your creatures.
      ²⁵Here is the ocean, vast and wide,

            teeming with life of every kind,

            both great and small.
      ²⁶See the ships sailing along,

            and Leviathan, which you made to play in the sea.
      ²⁷Every one of these depends on you

            to give them their food as they need it.
      ²⁸When you supply it, they gather it.

            You open your hand to feed them, and they are satisfied.
      ²⁹But if you turn away from them, they panic.

            When you take away their breath, they die

            and turn again to dust.
      ³⁰When you send your Spirit, new life is born

            to replenish all the living of the earth.

WHAT DOES TODAY'S SCRIPTURE TEACH US ABOUT GOD'S POWER AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL IN ALL OF CREATION?

Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes explain it this way:

104:24 Creation is filled with stunning variety, revealing the rich creativity, goodness, and wisdom of our loving God. As you observe your natural surroundings, thank God for his creativity. Take a fresh look at people, seeing each one as God's unique creation, with his or her own special talents, abilities, and gifts.

104:26 Here "Leviathan" simply means a large and active sea creature.

104:28-30 ...this psalm tells of his sovereignty over all creation. God has supreme, unlimited power over the entire universe. He creates; he preserves; he governs. As we understand God's power, we realize that he is sufficent to handle our life.

People who like to fish often talk about "the big one that got away". In God's creation, not even the smallest one ever gets away from God's control. Trust God with His creative power over the big and little things in your life.

TALK ABOUT IT

Thank God for His power demonstrated in all of His creation, both big and small. Ask God to help you remember from day to day, just how significant His being the Almighty Creator is to you being able to live your life for His purpose and glory. Think about those "little things" in your life that may not be important to anyone else, but they're often on your mind. Talk to your Heavenly Father about them right now. Give Him control over every detail in your life. He can handle it.

TRY IT

Write down your top ten list of "little things" that need God's loving, powerful attention. Pray about them every day until you see God at work.
Anytime you see the image of a tiny fish (in pictures, TV, or your own fish tank) let it be a reminder of God's loving attention to every detail in your life.

ABOUT IT

DAILY DEVOS is brought to you by Youth for Christ. Youth for Christ works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.

Byron Emmert Daily Devos is published Monday through Friday. Archives can be found at YFC.ORG. Its purpose is to help you apply truths from God's Word every day.

Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been involved with Youth For Christ for 30 years. He's served as Campus Life Staff, as a writer, and in leadership for the DCLA Conferences. Byron is married to Linda and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, and a daughter in college. He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.