Devotional - April 15, 2026
Scripture: Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
In this text, we are given a great blessing from God. As God rules over us, we are given the task of ruling over the earth. The earth's welfare is in our hands. We are called to see the earth as God sees it, good. Since God gave it to us, we need to accept the fact that it needs to be managed and managed well. Everything in creation has a purpose that helps sustain the life God gave us and the other creatures and plants therein. Amazingly, we continue to find new ways that nature helps us stay healthy. We also find that when we destroy nature, that destruction can lead to further destruction, even of us. Valuing the ecosystem we have been placed in is not just for tree-huggers. No, it is a command from God. But, as with all God's commands, when you look beyond the rule, you open a whole new dimension to your life. The world around humanity is fascinating and profound when you understand it. To understand it all is impossible, but the understanding you gain is well worth the effort. Yes, it is our responsibility, but that doesn't mean we cannot enjoy it. God gave it to us to enjoy. So the next time you see a bug or a plant, don't immediately try to smash it or pull it out of the ground. Try to identify it, learn something about it, how it lives, what it does. I believe you will enjoy what you learn.
Pray with me.., Holy God, everyday we worry about our life and are frustrated by our situation. Doing so, we walk by the true miracle of Your creation. Help us to unplug from the difficulties of this life and enjoy Your creation with You. Help us to be better stewards of it. Hear us as we pray for our loved ones and our church. We ask Your blessing upon them, in Jesus' name, Amen.
God's peace,
Pastor Brian
