Created and Redeemed
For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In His hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
The gods (and goddesses) of many religions make their claims on the world. Many people believe that the stars and planets control human destiny, a false claim that gives a god-like status to the created heavenly bodies. Even the earth itself is sometimes described as a goddess, personified as "Mother Nature" or "Mother Earth." Those who believe these false ideas have "exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator" (Romans 1:25a).
These other "gods" have no true claim on the earth or any part of creation. The Triune God alone is God. As Scripture reminds us, "The gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens" (1 Chronicles 16:26). We are not to worship creation, but to acknowledge its Creator and worship Him alone. From the deepest valleys and ocean depths to the highest mountains, the earth belongs to the Lord because He created it all. At His command, "the mountains rose, the valleys sank down" (Psalm 104:8a). God gave the care of His creation to the human beings He created, telling them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth" (Genesis 1:28b).
The people into whose care God first placed His creation willfully plunged themselves and the world into the darkness of sin and death. Yet our great God and King still loved the world He created and sent His Son to be its Savior. Jesus took onto Himself the burden of this world's sin and suffered the penalty of death for our rebellion against our Creator. No other "god" has done that! Jesus rose in triumph over death on the first Easter morning. By God's grace, through faith in Jesus, our sins are swept away in the Savior's blood. Jesus, through whom and for whom all things were created, now reigns in exalted glory. He shares no dominion with idols; all authority in heaven and on earth have been given to Him. On a great day still to come, Jesus our Lord will return in glory as King and Judge. This present earth will pass away, and God will create a new heaven and a new earth, making all things new.
Our Creator and Savior holds in His hand the deepest places of the earth and the highest mountains. He holds us in His hand! By the power of the Holy Spirit, there is only one response that we can make: "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!"
Almighty God, out of Your love for the world, You sent Your Son to be its Savior. Help us to be good stewards of Your creation and faithful witnesses for Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Dr. Carol Geisler
Reflection Questions:
The gods (and goddesses) of many religions make their claims on the world. Many people believe that the stars and planets control human destiny.
These other "gods" have no true claim on the earth or any part of creation. The Triune God alone is God. As Scripture reminds us, "The gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens" (1 Chronicles 16:26). We are not to worship creation, but to acknowledge its Creator and worship Him alone. From the deepest valleys and ocean depths to the highest mountains, the earth belongs to the Lord because He created it all. At His command, "the mountains rose, the valleys sank down" (Psalm 104:8a). God gave the care of His creation to the human beings He created, telling them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth" (Genesis 1:28b).
The people into whose care God first placed His creation willfully plunged themselves and the world into the darkness of sin and death. Yet our great God and King still loved the world He created and sent His Son to be its Savior. Jesus took onto Himself the burden of this world's sin and suffered the penalty of death for our rebellion against our Creator. No other "god" has done that! Jesus rose in triumph over death on the first Easter morning. By God's grace, through faith in Jesus, our sins are swept away in the Savior's blood. Jesus, through whom and for whom all things were created, now reigns in exalted glory. He shares no dominion with idols; all authority in heaven and on earth have been given to Him. On a great day still to come, Jesus our Lord will return in glory as King and Judge. This present earth will pass away, and God will create a new heaven and a new earth, making all things new.
Our Creator and Savior holds in His hand the deepest places of the earth and the highest mountains. He holds us in His hand! By the power of the Holy Spirit, there is only one response that we can make: "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!"
Almighty God, out of Your love for the world, You sent Your Son to be its Savior. Help us to be good stewards of Your creation and faithful witnesses for Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Dr. Carol Geisler
Reflection Questions:
1. Why do you think mankind through the ages has often worshiped things like the sun, moon, sea, nature, etc.? What is the logic and appeal in doing so?Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
2. Have you ever looked at something in nature and said to yourself, "I see God's hand in that"? What was it, and what was it about what you saw that made you say that?
3. Has God given you the role of caring for other human beings? Who are they, and how do you care for them?
The gods (and goddesses) of many religions make their claims on the world. Many people believe that the stars and planets control human destiny.
No comments:
Post a Comment