Finding More Joy in God's Creation

This is a beautiful time of year with all the green grass and trees, the blue sky and the many different colorful flowers. We may appreciate the beauty of God’s creation, but we will never fully enjoy God’s creation until we praise and thank the Lord for what He has made.

Until I came to faith in Christ while I was in college, I largely took for granted the marvels of God’s creation. Even when I did have some appreciation for this world in which we live, I didn’t realize that I was supposed to honor God for His wonderful creation.

God’s Word reminds us again and again of how God’s marvelous creation declares to us things about God. “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” Psalm 19:1-2 (NASB) “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20 (NASB)

God’s Word also makes it clear that God has created everything for His praise and glory.
“Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all stars of light! Praise Him, highest heavens, and the waters that are above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He commanded and they were created. He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which will not pass away. Praise the LORD from the earth, sea monsters and all deeps; fire and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, fulfilling His word; mountains and all hills; fruit trees and all cedars; beasts and all cattle; creeping things and winged fowl; kings of the earth and all peoples; princes and all judges of the earth; both young men and virgins; old men and children. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above earth and heaven.” Psalm 148:1-13 (NASB) It’s very clear that everything has been created for God’s praise and glory.

Part of our purpose in being here is to trace the wonders of this world back to the hand of God and then praise and thank Him. We can praise Him for His greatness in creating this vast universe. We can praise Him for His power displayed in a thunderstorm. We can praise Him for His marvelous plan for the seasons of the year. We can praise Him for His great knowledge and wisdom which are displayed in all that He has made. We can thank Him for all the beautiful colors. We can praise Him for His creativity which is evident in all the different kinds of living creatures. We can thank Him for the many unique songs that different birds sing. We can thank Him for the beauty of a sunset and a rainbow and the majesty of a waterfall.

If you want to honor God and enjoy life more, then develop a practice of tracing the blessings of this life back to the hand of God in order to praise and thank Him.

Remembering Those Who Gave Us Freedom

It is so easy for us to take for granted the wonderful freedoms that we have in our country. After living in a couple of African countries and traveling in a number of other nations I have grown in my appreciation for our great nation. We are far from perfect, but we have many freedoms that we should cherish. We are all probably guilty of not appreciating the great sacrifices that have made these freedoms possible. We can never repay the men and women who have given their lives on our behalf, but we can be diligent to help defend the freedoms that have been passed down to us.

We have many freedoms in our country, but only one person could provide our greatest freedom. Jesus Christ made the greatest sacrifice when He went to the cross to pay the penalty for our sins so that through faith in Him we might experience forgiveness for our sins and begin an everlasting relationship with Him. Jesus not only provided forgiveness for our sins, but He also broke sin's power over us so that we are now freed from slavery to sin. Through faith in Christ we are now free to live the way God created us to live. No matter how many freedoms a government may take away, it cannot take away this wonderful freedom from sin that Jesus Christ has provided for us.

As we remember with grateful hearts the men and women who sacrificed their lives in order that we might have our many freedoms in this country, let's also remember to thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for His great sacrifice for us on the cross. He has freed us and enabled us to truly live the abundant life that He created us to live.