Ruling the Waters

 

The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man. (Proverbs 8:22-31 ESV).

 

Historically Moses, directed by God, is understood to be the writer of the first five books of the Bible. Growing up as part of the royal family in Egypt, Moses (a Hebrew child adopted by the king’s daughter—Exodus 2) would have been taught many myths about the origin of the world. An old Mesopotamian myth, for example, held that Marduk, a warrior god, fought against Tiamat, a monster ruling the chaotic sea. Marduk defeated Tiamat and brought order out of chaos.

 

Now, let’s look at Genesis 1 again. We see powerful waters, but they are not described as a god or a monster; they are simply a part of the world God is creating. God tells the waters where they can go and where they cannot go. (cf. Proverbs 8:12-31.) Moses shows that the true God is in control of all things. In myths about creation there is always uncertainty about whether a people’s gods can hold back the forces of chaos. The ancient Egyptians, for example, believed that their sun god Ra had to descend into the underworld every night to defeat the great serpent Apophis, or else the ordered world would be destroyed.

 

But in the Genesis story, God creates and makes peace not through battle but with a word. No other force or would-be god is there; creation has only one true Lord. That God is Jesus, our redeemer who loves us and gives us grace and love forever!

 

The Face of the Waters

 

This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God. (2 Peter 3:1-5 ESV).

 

Did you notice anything curious in the first verses of the Bible from yesterday’s devotional? I have read these verses many times in my life, and just recently I wondered: Where did these waters come from? Well, God must have created these waters at some point, but we are not told that part of the story. The NIV translation of verse 2 says that the “Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” The Hebrew word for “Spirit” is ruach, and that word can also be translated as “wind” or “breath.” So, some translations say that the “wind of God” hovered (or moved) over the waters. Either way, we can begin to imagine God’s person and power moving over these deep waters. In another passage the Hebrew word rahap for “hover” describes the Lord as a great eagle brooding, hovering over its beloved hatchlings as they leave the nest and learn to fly (cf. Deuteronomy 32:11).

 

So in the first verses of Genesis we see God moving powerfully and lovingly over his yet unformed world of water. This picture is of a caring and intentional God creating just what would be needed for the perfect place He would place his crown of creation – man. As I think about this truth, I am deeply encouraged. God did not create haphazardly or arbitrarily. He was microscopically intentional in all that he did in preparation for placing humanity on the Earth.

 

Certainly, this is Peter’s intention in writing that all things are continuing as from the beginning toward the perfect completion of God’s plan. That plan includes every believer in an eternity of perfect harmony with one another and God’s creation. God has a plan for His children… and it is a good plan!

 

Water in the Scripture

 

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:1-10 ESV).

 

Did you know there are different kinds of water? Recently I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. That precipitated the ordering of a CPAP. Since I have been dealing with some issues since October without a diagnosis or resolution, I was very happy to see some movement from my physicians to try some other things. We settled on a return to phlebotomies and the CPAP. I’ve been using the machine for the past three weeks and with the return to phlebotomies I feel so much better! During the beginning of using the CPAP I learned something a bit new. There is a difference between distilled water and other kinds of water. Of course, my first call was to Kyle to explain why I needed distilled water instead of purified water. After a short lesson in chemistry, I went to the store and bought distilled water for the CPAP. That also prompted me to think about the different mentions of water in the Scripture.

 

Our reading today is the story of creation. Water appears in a central role in each of the first three days of creation. We know that water is vitally important, both in our everyday lives and in the Bible. In the form of rain, clouds, oceans, rivers, lakes, and more, water is essential for natural life on our planet. At the same time, though, in the form of dangerous storms, flooding, and tsunamis, water can be terribly destructive. At the beginning of the biblical story of creation, we see murky depths and chaotic waters. And yet the Spirit of God hovers over these waters and establishes his good world by shaping them. Then at the end of the Bible (cf. Revelation 21-22) we see a vision in which the sea and its dangers are no more. Instead, we see the peaceful river of life that delivers healing to all nations.

 

Throughout the Bible we also see many other passages referring to water, and among them is a picture of a man literally walking on the waves of the sea. We hear him telling the wind and waves to be at peace, and they are stilled. He also goes into a river to be baptized, and a voice from heaven declares, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Though the Bible’s many references to water may seem random and unrelated, reflecting on various examples can give us powerful insights into who God is, who we are, and how we are called to live in God’s world. In the coming days we’ll see how the waters of the Bible can point us to Christ, who came to give us living water “welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14).

 

My prayer for you is that you will be refreshed, refocused, and renewed in God’s Word!

 

Fear and Anxiety - Pt. 5

 

For the LORD spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear and let him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.” (Isaiah 8:11-15 ESV).

 

The world around us fears all sorts of things. I was reading a few articles about what people fear the most. Things like heights, snakes, and the dentist top a lot of people’s lists. But so do things like economic disaster, wars, terrorism, and natural disasters. These are things that the world fears.

 

But the Lord tells Isaiah not to fear what people fear when they don’t live in tune with God. While the rest of the world might be afraid of upheaval and destruction, Isaiah isn’t supposed to fear such things. He isn’t supposed to be afraid of conspiracies or of being physically hurt. He isn’t supposed to be afraid of being too bold or saying the wrong thing. He isn’t supposed to be afraid of what the future might hold. He isn’t even supposed to be afraid of not having a next meal or warm clothes or a place to sleep. While the world might fear and worry over those things, Isaiah isn’t supposed to.

 

Isaiah is supposed to fear only God. Everything else is in God’s control. He will take care of all things. All that Isaiah must do is obey God and fear him—that is, honor, worship, and be in awe of him.

 

We are called to do the same. There are many things to fear in this world. But God doesn’t want us to fear any of them. He wants us to fear only him. So, in the fear of the Lord, worship and honor him today in everything you do.

 

Fear and Anxiety - Pt. 4

 

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:1-6 ESV).

 

Today we come to one of my favorite psalms. Perhaps it is a favorite of yours as well. Many believers throughout the centuries have relied on the encouragement and comfort of these words. Having been through my own “valley of the shadow of death” and walking with countless others at such dark times I have learned that the psalmist is not writing esoterically. He speaks from his experience knowing that there are times in this life that simply overwhelm us in such a way as to completely disable us. It is then that these promises are such a blessing.

 

Everyone will eventually experience a dark valley in which they will especially sense the need for Jesus, the good shepherd. This psalm speaks of the shepherd who leads us to comfortable places, refreshes our souls, and lavishes us with love and blessings. And when we face times of suffering caused by disappointments or devastating blows, our protector comes to help and comfort us.

 

Whatever circumstances you face, physical illnesses, financial setbacks, relational betrayals, all of these are under the watchful care of our Father in heaven. His promise to us is to never leave us helpless or alone. When we enter the darkest valleys amid serious illness, stress, loss, worry, and other struggles, we can find much comfort in the prayer of Psalm 23. We have the blessed assurance that God is with us and cares for us. We have no need to fear.

 

Fear and Anxiety - Pt. 3

 

But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Isaiah 43:1-3a ESV).

 

Fear comes in all shapes and sizes. Some people are afraid of snakes or spiders. Others may have a fear of heights, enclosed spaces, or public speaking. Many fear failure, change, dying, or being alone. Still others live each day in very real fear of persecution, oppression, discrimination, and physical harm.

 

This world can be a scary place, and fear is something we all must face.

 

The Bible tells us, “Do not be afraid!” Again and again we read of God’s coming to his people with such comforting and empowering words as “Do not fear. I am with you. I am your God and will never forsake you. You are mine.” In the story of Jesus’ resurrection, both the angel at the tomb and Jesus on the road began their conversation with the women by saying, “Do not be afraid…”

 

The women’s encounter that early morning after the crucifixion was filled with the supernatural. It had to be overwhelming, and their fear was real. But the power of the resurrection assures us that the Lord cares for his people and is with them in whatever times may come.

 

Because Jesus rose again and is with us always through his Holy Spirit (cf. Matthew 28:18-20), we can have freedom from fear because we are never alone. In God’s presence and strength we can face whatever comes. This trust that He holds our future secure is the foundational truth that empowers us to overcome our fear of the future. However, scary the world may appear, it is nothing compared to the promise and power of our Heavenly Father. He has declared with finality that we are His!

 

Fear and Control - Pt. 2

 

But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” (Isaiah 41:8-13 ESV).

 

Based on mass, this is the largest spider in the world (leg-span measurements make it second only to the giant huntsman). They’re so big that in 2014, an entomologist wandering through the rainforest in Guyana found one that was as big as a puppy and weighed just as much. The name may just be a clever note on its size—it’s debated whether the spider actually eats birds. Mostly the spider dines on crickets, beetles and occasionally small mammals and frogs. In any case, it has fangs almost an inch long (although its bite is considered no worse than a wasp's sting) and is covered in tiny prickly hairs that it shoots out at whoever is bugging it. Yep, not a critter I want to meet in the dark!

 

When I ask people what they are afraid of, the typical answer is either spiders or snakes. Sometime people who are a bit older tend to mention bigger risks, such as mass shootings, a natural disaster, or anything that could rob us of life—either our own or that of a loved one. God knows how we are made and how fear can cripple us. In the Bible the message “Do not fear” occurs some 365 times, in one phrasing or another. The prophet Isaiah, speaking God’s words to God’s chosen people, encourages Israel to trust God—even though they will suffer in captivity—and not to fear, because God has an amazing rescue plan.

 

When we lose our job, learn that we have a serious illness, face a big financial loss, or watch a family member make dangerous choices, we naturally experience fear for the future. God’s words in Isaiah invite us to look at the big picture, the overarching story. Our God promises, in effect, “I am with you; I am your God; I will strengthen you and help you. My right hand will take hold of your right hand, so do not be dismayed.” This is the first step in assuaging our fear of the future.

 

Fear and Anxiety - Pt. 1

 

So he stayed there that night, and from what he had with him he took a present for his brother Esau, two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty milking camels and their calves, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. These he handed over to his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass on ahead of me and put a space between drove and drove.” He instructed the first, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, ‘To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And whose are these ahead of you?’ then you shall say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a present sent to my lord Esau. And moreover, he is behind us.’” He likewise instructed the second and the third and all who followed the droves, “You shall say the same thing to Esau when you find him, and you shall say, ‘Moreover, your servant Jacob is behind us.’” For he thought, “I may appease him with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.” So the present passed on ahead of him, and he himself stayed that night in the camp. (Genesis 32:13-21 ESV).

 

Fear can be a powerful force in our lives. James Frey wrote, “And loss of control is always the source of fear. It is also, however, always the source of change.” I have often taught this principle in helping people overcome anxiety and fear of the future. It is a matter of finding the control that you can have and trusting in the ultimate power that God has to bring good into your life. Our reading today illustrates this principle.

 

For much of his life, Jacob had tried to act as a person in control, someone who could figure his way out of any hard place. After he successfully navigated his recent awkward encounter with Laban, we might think he would have felt confident in his abilities. But now, as reports suggested that Esau, his brother, was coming to meet him with 400 men, then suggesting a small army, Jacob was terrified. What more could he do to save himself? For the first time, we hear him praying the desperate prayer of a man who knows he can do nothing apart from God’s help and power.

 

We often imagine that we have the resources to deal with any problem that might come our way. Perhaps we even say that we depend wholly on God’s power, but we so often live as if our efforts and our abilities are what really matter. When we face a situation we cannot control, we realize that we cannot rescue ourselves from our deepest fears. We cannot preserve our health. We cannot redeem our reputation. We cannot reconcile our broken relationships. We cannot save ourselves from our sin. We can depend only on the grace and power of God. That is the answer to fear and anxiety.

Soaring Like an Eagle

 

To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing. Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:25-31 ESV).

 

In many places around the world, birds are a significant part of human culture. Just look at flags, stamps, coins, and bills from a variety of nations, and you’ll see a wide array of winged creatures. Do you know which birds are celebrated where you live? Canada loves the loon because it conveys solitude and peacefulness. China highlights the stork because it symbolizes longevity and wisdom. New Zealand favors the kiwi because of its uniqueness, and India prizes the peacock as a symbol of immortality and resurrection. Ancient Egypt famously profiled the eagle as an emblem of protection and strength, and dozens of countries, including the United States, claim the eagle as their national bird.

 

Eagles are truly majestic creatures that symbolize strength and independence. Catching sight of an eagle as it soars high above the earth can be breathtaking, and watching one swoop and maneuver its immense wings is awe-inspiring. The reference to eagles in Isaiah 40 is a comfort for God’s people in a time of weariness and struggle. Our matchless Creator and Sustainer gives us his strength and glory, filling us with the capacity to do far more than we think is possible.

 

We may feel weak and powerless in our current circumstances, but because of who we are in Christ, we can hold on to the promise that in his strength we will “soar on wings like eagles.”

 

He Knows All the Birds

 

“Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God. Not for your sacrifices ado I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me. I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” (Psalm 50:7-15 ESV).

 

I have read there are about 10,000 species of birds described worldwide, though one estimate of the real number places it at almost twice that. Taxonomy is very fluid in the age of DNA analysis, so comments are made where appropriate, and all numbers are approximate. I can attest to being able to recognize about one-tenth of that number by sight. Knowing what their sounds are individually is far less. The picture I’ve attached is that of a Harpy Eagle. The Harpy Eagle is the largest, most powerful raptor in the Americas, bigger even than the Golden Eagle. Its name refers to the harpies of Greek mythology, monsters in the form of a bird with a human face. While it is not the largest bird alive, it still weighs in at about 20 pounds and has been recorded taking 40 pound animals as its prey. Of course there are many other kinds of birds, all different in so many ways, yet our reading tells us that the Lord knows them all!

 

In this psalm God says, “I know every bird on the mountains…” To consider that God knows every bird isn’t just to say that God is the most advanced birder there is. It means that nothing in all this world escapes God’s attention. There is no creature, animal, or human, that is outside of his field of vision, no song he hasn’t heard, no call or cry he doesn’t recognize, no flight pattern or footprint he can’t identify.

 

Not only does nothing escape God’s attention, but nothing can fool him either. The one who knows every bird urges us to be real, not false, in our relationship with him. God calls us to be sincere in worship—not just to pretend or go through the motions. We are to honor God in all we do, fulfilling our vows to the God who keeps his promises. And we know we can “call on [him] in the day of trouble,” for the Lord, who knows all the birds, will always hear our cry and meet our need.

 

The Hilarious Ostrich

 

“The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the pinions and plumage of love? For she leaves her eggs to the earth and lets them be warmed on the ground, forgetting that a foot may crush them and that the wild beast may trample them. She deals cruelly with her young, as if they were not hers; though her labor be in vain, yet she has no fear, because God has made her forget wisdom and given her no share in understanding. When she rouses herself to flee, she laughs at the horse and his rider.” (Job 39:13-18 ESV).

 

Some years ago, Mary and I took a trip south of us to Fossil Rim Wildlife Park. There are 100’s of acres of land dedicated to various free roaming exotic animals. Virtually all those native to Africa as well as many other parts of the globe are represented on the grounds. They encourage visitors to feed the animals with special feed purchased as a part of the ticket for the driving tour.  Partway through the trip, as I was looking out the window, I saw an ostrich running wildly alongside us. Its long neck and bulging eyes stuck out in front of its oddly large body, and it flapped its enormous, fluffy wings while its skinny legs drove it closer to our car window to get a few pellets of food. Believe me, it is a wonderful experience to have an ostrich stick its head in your car and eat from your hand! Mary was not nearly as impressed as I was. I couldn’t keep from laughing!

 

But as outlandish as ostriches are, they still have their place in creation. Although God didn’t endow them with wisdom or good sense, he did see fit to make it possible for them to outpace horses and riders—and even cars on the trail at Fossil Rim! Perhaps God created such a funny creature for times when things that happen in life are just so strange that we have to shake our heads and say, “You can’t make this stuff up!” Our lives are often so complex in ways that we can’t explain, and sometimes we are left speechless.

 

Still, even strange and inexplicable things have their place in life. And like the wildly joyful ostrich, somehow everything fits together, in God’s wisdom. Trust in His way!

 

Sheltered by His Wings

 

Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.” (Ruth 2:8-13 ESV).

 

Our reading today gives us a wonderful image of how God’s care for us is so complete. Often, we see God going out of his way to care for us, and sometimes we see our need to go out of our way to be cared for. It’s not always easy to ask for what we need, especially when others might have reasons to be cautious about helping us. But Ruth is a bold person. She knows what she and her mother-in-law need, and she asks for permission to glean barley in a field that belongs to Boaz, a landowner from Bethlehem.

 

Now, Boaz is a relative of Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi, and he has heard about Ruth but hasn’t met her before. And rather than being dismissive or indifferent, Boaz welcomes Ruth and invites her to keep following along after the harvesters. What’s more, he blesses her for supporting her mother-in-law and indicates that Ruth is an honorable woman. “May you be richly rewarded by the Lord,” he says, “. . . under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” This statement reflects the caring, providing nature of God’s character, and it helps us to understand God’s love for us.

 

God faithfully cares for and provides for us, and often he does this through the kindness and generosity of others. And whether we need help or are able to help someone else, we can be assured that God empowers and celebrates both the one who asks and the one who gives.

 

A Ground Nest

 

[The Lord said] “If you come across a bird’s nest in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs and the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young. You shall let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself, that it may go well with you, and that you may live long.” (Deuteronomy 22:6-7 ESV).

 

As I have mentioned before, we live more in the country than the city. I also feed the wild birds. I also have several nesting boxes that I have built and set up for various kinds of birds. I have two boxes designed for Eastern Bluebirds. It is always a pleasure to watch them as they return each year to lay the eggs and raise their clutch. Some of the other nests I have found belong to the many doves that frequent our home; swallows that love the “bird hotel” I’ve erected about twenty feet in the air which is their preference; and, of course, we have nests in other places from the ever-present English Sparrows. Last year, as I was mowing, I found a ground nest that was well camouflaged in the grass and leaves. I had seen this before and began to look around for the Killdeer that had laid them. She wasn’t far, doing her best to lure me away from her clutch. I was sure to take a wide path around the nest and watched over the next few weeks as they hatched. It was an incredible reminder that God’s creation is constantly changing and being infused with life.

 

Our reading today is among the many Old Testament guidelines for holy living. These give God’s instruction in what they should do if they found such a nest. At that time, it was considered okay to take the eggs or the young hatchlings, but it was not acceptable to harm the bird that laid them. That was a simple principle of conservation: if the eggs are taken, the bird can lay more eggs, but if the mother bird is taken or destroyed, she can’t produce any more. In times of hunger, it might have been tempting to take both the bird and the eggs, but the prevailing wisdom cautioned people to use restraint, even if they were desperate.

 

These instructions aren’t only about conservation, though. We can trust that if God cares for birds, he cares far more about us, whom he made in his image. Jesus made this clear when he said to his followers, “Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31). He was explaining God’s care for them when they were threatened by enemies. Similarly, God cares for us!

The Dove of Peace

At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made and sent forth a raven. It went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth. Then he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground. But the dove found no place to set her foot, and she returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her and brought her into the ark with him. He waited another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark. And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth. (Genesis 8:6-11 ESV).

 

Maybe you have seen a picture or a logo showing a dove with an olive branch in its beak. That image is drawn from our reading for today. Over time, the image of a dove bringing a part of an olive tree has become a symbol for peace. When we look a little closer at today’s passage, it becomes clear that Noah wasn’t just passively waiting for good, peaceful news. He first sent out a raven, a robust bird that flew “back and forth” but apparently did not come back into the ark—probably because it found plenty of carrion to eat. Noah then sent out a gentle dove—a more vulnerable bird—to go looking for signs of new growth. And then he waited attentively.

 

The dove soon returned because it “could find nowhere to perch.” So, Noah brought it back into the ark for seven days. Then, when he sent the dove out again, it returned in the evening with an olive leaf. This meant the flood waters had receded to a safe level where the people and animals could flourish and thrive again, enjoying shalom (peace) in God’s world.

 

When I see the doves that frequent my yard, I always pause to reflect on this. It also causes me to consider ways in which I might be a part of bringing peace to others. There are as many ways to do this as there are people in the world. Sometimes it is as simple as  a kind word spoken unexpectedly to a stranger. Commit yourself to being someone who brings peace to another person today.

  

The Gulls of Galveston

 

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2 ESV).

 

While reading the first chapter of Genesis I was taken back to my childhood when I often found myself roaming the beaches of Galveston. I must confess that these times were not sanctioned by my parents, but living a mere ten blocks from the beach was too much of a temptation not to hop on my bicycle and roam the sands. There were times when I actually had a plan, though most of the time I simply enjoyed watching the waves roll in and the ever-present gulls float through the air looking for something to eat. Sometimes I would sneak away with some bread or crackers to lure them in closer by tossing crumbs in the air just to watch them drop from the air to swoop in and capture the morsels before they hit the ground.  

 

Perhaps you have done something similar. They seem to just hang in the air over the waves, even with the wind blustering and the waters roaring.  They still soar calmly over the rough ocean. Perhaps it is a result of their constantly flying in that environment, or their strength and skill. Either way, it is amazing to see their control. They just hover in the air watching and waiting.

 

That image of hovering over turbulent waters is how the Bible first describes the Spirit of God. The word for “hovering” indicates a high degree of care, even concern, in its action, and it is unmistakably linked to the behavior of protective birds that brood over their nests, guarding and keeping their clutch warm and safe as it develops. The Holy Spirit, in his protective love, hovers over the surface of the unformed deep.

 

The story of creation in Genesis was given to God’s people at a time when other stories about the beginning of the world were filled with themes of violence and chaos. Into that unsettled situation, the Genesis story came as a gift that revealed God’s purposeful, loving intention to make all things good and beautiful. At the time, it would have sounded far different from the other creation stories. And because love and goodness are at the center of this story, it continues to invite people to know God as the loving, protective Creator that he is. As we’ll see in the next few days, many other passages in the Bible also teach us something about God through the imagery of birds. I hope you will be encouraged with this approach each day. He does indeed “hover” over us!

 

Spring Rains

 

Ask rain from the LORD in the season of the spring rain, from the LORD who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field. For the household gods gutter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd. “My anger is hot against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; for the LORD of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them like his majestic steed in battle. From him shall come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler—all of them together. They shall be like mighty men in battle, trampling the foe in the mud of the streets; they shall fight because the LORD is with them, and they shall put to shame the riders on horses. (Zechariah 10:1-5 ESV).

 

It has been quite a week of weather. We typically watch a news channel each day for the forecast and one of their catchphrases when extreme weather is a part of the forecast is “weather aware.” Mary and I are amused with one of the meteorologists who seems to get especially animated with each of these potential storms. Personally, I am never excited about thunderstorms, hail, or tornados. There are many references in the Scripture to the destructive power of storms and how sometimes God uses storms to bring judgment. But many other texts describe storms as bringing blessings, especially in the rains that water the land.

 

Just as today, regular rainfall was essential for ancient cultures with limited irrigation systems. When Jacob sent his sons from Canaan to buy food in Egypt (cf. Genesis 42), it was impossible to grow food where they were. They needed rain for their crops, but instead they had a massive famine. It is difficult to imagine that kind of need, however that was the norm of that time and place. Even today we see in some parts of the world where access to clean water is essential for survival.

 

Zechariah reminded God’s people that the Lord is the source of rain. Zechariah’s prophecies were pastoral, emphasizing that God is at work in nature and is the source of the people’s power. We all need to ask God for his blessing and to live lives that reflect the source of that blessing. At that time, the people were rebuilding the temple of God in Jerusalem, so Zechariah reminded them that God calls everyone to turn away from sin and to serve him in faith. The closing chapters of Zechariah begin pointing to the coming Messiah (Jesus Christ), the Savior. Not only does the Lord provide rain for everyone, but in the coming kingdom God will provide all that everyone will need. It is an encouraging reminder in our troubles today.

 

The Life Everlasting

 

Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self his being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:13-18 ESV).

 

Maybe you have had some great times with family and friends, with delicious food to enjoy, and perhaps even a sunny, blue sky overhead, a soft breeze blowing, and the world radiating God’s glory in creation. Times like that can give us a peek at what we mean when we say, with the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in … the life everlasting.” Even so, our fleeting moments of joy in this life pale in comparison to the eternal joy we can look forward to in Christ.

 

Yet this we know with certainty: one day, we will stand before God’s throne with Jesus, surrounded by countless others in our community of faith from around the world, completely freed from all fears, and filled with perfect peace and joy (cf. Revelation 7). There we will be fully doing what we were created for: “to glorify God and enjoy him forever” (Westminster Catechism).

 

Until that time, we may have only fleeting glimpses of our ultimate destiny—and those moments may come during struggles, challenges, and sometimes even utter defeat. But we are encouraged not to despair during hard times but to wait with hope for the day when Jesus will be all and all, when his kingdom will come in power and glory. This is our declaration of faith!

 

The Resurrection of the Body

 

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:51-56 ESV).

 

While we are alive, our spirits are united with our bodies. When we die, our spirits depart, and our lifeless bodies return to the earth. Is that the final destiny for our bodies? Some religions welcome death as a release from the “prison” of the body. But, according to the Bible, God made us to have both souls and bodies; moreover, he made our bodies good (cf. Psalm 139:14). So, when the two are separated by death, we cease to be as God made us. For that reason, we say, with the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in the resurrection of the body.”

 

With the accumulation of years we all come to intimately understand that our bodies are vulnerable and frail. They break down and eventually just give out. Yet our bodies remain integral to who we are as God has made us. Without our bodies, we are no longer fully ourselves.

 

For all of us who believe in Christ, we can take great comfort that when we die, our souls will immediately be with Jesus. And when Jesus returns, our bodies and souls will be reunited. Then we will again be fully ourselves.

 

On that day, though, our bodies will no longer be frail and mortal. Death will be conquered, and we will have “…glorified” bodies, just like Jesus’ body at his resurrection. What a day that will be!

 

The Communion of Saints

 

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, pin proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:3-8 ESV).

 

When we say, with the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in … the communion of saints,” we are saying that through Jesus’ blood we not only belong to him but also to each other. Our blood relationship in Jesus transcends even the real blood we share with our own family members. This connection goes beyond cooperation. It is an unbreakable, shared bond through the new birth we have be given in God’s grace and love.

 

And our communion with each other is more than just a statement of fact. Paul goes on to explain that belonging to one another has a crucial function. Each of us has been given gifts by the Holy Spirit. Though our gifts vary, the purpose for them is the same: to build one another up in service to the Lord and for the benefit of all. Using our gifts leads to all kinds of ways in which we can show God’s love to one another and to all the people around us.

 

The gifts we have may include preaching (prophesying—bringing God’s Word to people), teaching, leading, serving, giving, or any number of other abilities. Jesus wants us to use these gifts with thanksgiving and love to strengthen his body so that all can join in the communion of saints.

 

The Holy Catholic Church

 

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 7:9-12 ESV).

 

As we near the end of our study of the Apostles’ Creed we come to a statement that has been misunderstood and maligned through the modern era. However, we must remember that the Christian faith is deeply personal, and, at the same time, it is also deeply communal. When we say, with the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in … the holy catholic church,” we are declaring that the church, the body of Christ, includes all who belong to the people of God throughout history. It is not merely a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.

 

This statement does not single out or promote a particular church within the body of all who believe in Christ. The word “catholic” here means “universal,” indicating that the church of Christ includes all of God’s people from all times in history. The breathtaking vision in our reading today captures the scope of Christ’s church gathered “from every nation, tribe, people and language.” Can you imagine a more awe-inspiring sight?

 

And what unites this astonishing multitude of people from every time and place? Since the early centuries of the church, the teaching of statements like the Apostles’ Creed has played a central role in uniting Christians around the true faith anchored in Scripture and inspired by the triune God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 

This truth and witness of the universal church is meant to comfort, encourage, and challenge us to love and serve the God whom countless believers have served through the ages. It is a call to a wide community of believers.

 

The Author of Scripture

 

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV).

 

Paul’s words to Timothy in our reading today offer practical advice for godly living. From an early age, Timothy had learned the truth found in the Scriptures. And here Paul encourages him to continue to read, learn from, and trust in God’s Word, which helps every believer focus on living God’s way for full, meaningful life. God’s Word can be trusted because it is not the mere words of imperfect human beings; it is the truth of the eternal God himself.

 

When we confess, with the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” we also affirm that the Holy Spirit worked in and through the people who wrote down the words of Scripture to reveal God’s design and purpose for us. Paul describes the Spirit’s work as “God-breathed.” Just as the Holy Spirit breathed life into the first human being (cf. Genesis 2:7), so the Holy Spirit breathed into the work of the Bible’s human authors, making the Scriptures full of life and giving all that we need for faithful living.

 

While there has been much discussion and debate through the centuries since the Scripture was written, we can be sure that it was not just a work of man. God had a direct and irrefutable hand in the writing.  That makes it a book of truth giving us the blueprint of how to understand and live for God today.

 

When you have questions about life, look first to the wisdom and truth of Scripture. There you will find all you need for every circumstance and question in life. The Holy Spirit has guaranteed this as well as our eternal life.

 

The Guarantee of Our Redemption

 

As surely as God is faithful, hour word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (2 Corinthians 1:18-22 ESV).

 

I’m not a big fan of extended warranties for most things, though for some of the big-ticket items like electronics, cars, and home appliances I have used them more than once. They are sort of a guarantee, a promise that the item can be repaired or replaced if it doesn’t work right. And that brings peace of mind and assurance that the manufacturer will stand by their promises. When we say, with the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” we assert that the Holy Spirit is our guarantee.

 

The Bible declares that God will keep every promise he has ever made. Most importantly, God has promised that he has forgiven our sins through his Son, Jesus. God has also promised that he hears and answers our prayers and that that he will never reject or abandon us.

 

These are wonderful promises. Yet we can sometimes have doubts. Do you ever doubt what the Bible teaches? Do you ever wonder if you’re really saved? Do you wonder if God really hears and answers your prayers? God’s children have an eternal guarantee, and it’s been purchased for us through the blood of Jesus. After ascending to heaven, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be our living guarantee. Now the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts, assuring us in all circumstances that we belong to God.

 

Doubts and temptations will come. When they do, listen for the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit in your heart. The Spirit is our unshakable guarantee that God loves us. Listen and follow him. Our “Manufacturer” has given us indisputable proof of his claims!