Genesis 9:13 “I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the Earth.”
Like most people on Earth, I love seeing rainbows. The colors are always fantastic and the whole experience is mystical, especially when the bow arcs across a dark gray sky and then gradually disappears as the rains move on. Sometimes a double bow will appear and once I saw three bows together. That always thrills the child within me and I feel blessed to having seen something naturally beautiful. I know that there are scientific reasons why rainbows occur and it all has to do with the refraction of light against droplets of rain. Whatever the cause, I still stop to look at rainbows and experience the wonder of it all.
I also understand the covenant that God made with the Earth when the first rainbow was produced after the Great Flood. That promise was made not just with people, but the whole of life on Earth. This tells me that God greatly cares for all of Creation and not just human beings. We are just one species of many creatures on Earth and God loves them all; after all, who among us doesn’t love the things that we have created and crafted with our own hands? Don’t we also sit back, enjoy, care for all that we have made?
Next time I see a rainbow, I will delight in its short existence and thank God for such a blessing. I will also remind myself that the rainbow is not just for me, but for every living creature under its vibrant arc.
Question for personal reflection
Where do I find God’s promises being fulfilled in my life?
Prayer: Lord God, thank You for the wonder and beauty that rainbows evoke in our hearts and minds. We also praise You for the Promise of sustaining the Earth with Your blessings and grace. We are grateful to be living on and enjoying a planet with an amazing variety of living things. Help us to help You take care of it all. In Your Holy Name, we gratefully pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.
Today’s image is one of John’s latest Pentecost drawings. It’s called “Pentecost Power” and is a stained glass design of the Holy Spirit descending to the Earth. Symbols of flames and the rainbow permeate throughout the drawing. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7224/7200604314_e1352d502e_b.jpg
Teacher Devotions are hard to specifically find on the Internet. This teacher devotions blog was set up to help teachers find devotions for themselves, their staff, and students. The teacher devotions will be updated regularly, so that new devotions for teachers will be made available. Teachers can check out the latest teacher devotions by clicking the following teacher devotions link at http://teachdevs.blogspot.com/
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Teacher Devotions: A Real Promise - Genesis 8:22
Genesis 8:22 (God
said) “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat,
summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”
I
am not a scientist so I have to trust what the environmentalists tell me about
what’s happening to the planet. I also don’t fully understand what global warming
may or may not be, so I have to depend upon them to let me know the truth. If
they have a political agenda or an ecological philosophy to push, no matter
what the facts present, I wouldn’t know because I am no expert in their fields.
It’s all a matter of trust and faith, good will and wise conclusions.
I’m
a theologian and a biblical scholar, so when I read in Genesis that God says
everything will be okay on this planet so long as the Earth endures, then I
trust that His promises are true. Throughout my life, I have never known of God
breaking His Word, so I can readily accept that thousands of years ago, when He
stated that the agricultural and weather cycles on Earth would persist, as long
as the Earth endures, then it will always be the case. I realize, however, that
these cycles will only continue so long as the Earth herself is sustained. If
we destroy the planet by abusing the environment then those cycles, upon which
all life on Earth depends, will be absolutely ruined. In other words, we don’t
have to worry about God bringing the world to an end – we can manage that
tragedy all on our own.
Question for personal reflection
How can I faithfully serve God through
cherishing the Earth and protecting its environment?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the
King of all Creation and we best serve You when we look after others and the
world that we live in. Help us to recycle our faith through sharing it with
others, as well as combining our resources with other Christians to renew and
value the Earth. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
John
Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If
you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.
Today’s
image is one of John’s latest digital glass drawings. It’s called “The Bright
Morning Star.” If you would like to view a larger version, click on the
following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7187/6997700470_2e5fe82c6e_b.jpg
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)