Tag: nature

Markethive

Revealed by Nature

Have you ever experienced the love of an animal?

Written by GodLife on 19/01/2013
Series: Weekly Devotional
Tags: Creation, God, Love
"Ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities — His eternal power and divine nature."(Romans 1:20)

Have you ever experienced the love of an animal? I have pet cats, and like many pet owners or people who work with animals, I know that they can be very affectionate. When my cat loves me, I praise God for His wonderful Creation and for sharing His love with us through animals. Do you ever see God’s love because of interaction with nature? It is fun to praise Him when we can witness the amazing world He has made.

Loving Creator God
God made a marvelous universe, and He has a miraculous plan to redeem all Creation. The Apostle Paul preached to the wise people of Athens, “He is the God who made the world and everything in it” (Acts 17:24). Not only did He create everything, He loves it, too: “You care for people and animals alike, O Lord ”(Psalms 36:6). Jesus told us that “not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it”(Matthew 10:29).

Our Reaction to His Creation
What are we to do with the beautiful and useful handiwork of His? God instructed His people to be in charge of the animals and to care for the earth. God said people should “Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground” (Genesis 1:28). He told them, “You must not defile the land where you live”(Numbers 35:34) .St. Paul wrote, “Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12), which goes along with the Biblical wisdom that “The godly care for their animals” (Proverbs 12:10).

Reconciling All Creation
God has miracles in store for His people and His creation. We know it, and God lets His creation be aware, somehow, too — St. Paul wrote about how God’s “creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay”(Romans 8:21) . So we can rejoice that the Lord has chosen to let us live in and care for His wonderful world, and that through Jesus Christ, “God reconciled everything to Himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross” (Colossians 1:20).

Pray this week:
To thank God for His amazing Creation and wonderful plan.

How can you be more aware of God's amazing creation throughout your day? Talk to someone about your favorite place in nature or your favorite animal.

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

Overcoming the Old Nature

How do I handle tough times and temptations?

https://youtu.be/-M1THuXuDOU

Take off the old self with its practices… and put on the new self.

Colossians 3:9, 10 NIV

Does becoming a follower of Jesus exempt you from difficulty? No. You are not miraculously whisked into a trouble-free glass bubble when you are born again. Rather, you become a battlefield, where you contend with ongoing temptations and daunting challenges.

Though we received a new nature at conversion, we inherited a nasty carryover from our former life called “the old nature.” That legacy from the past hangs around, throwing up roadblocks to the Christ-centered life. It’s not easy to disconnect from ideas and habits that have defined us for so long.

But there’s good news! Jesus took our old nature to the grave when He was crucified. The new nature He gave us in its place is intended to fully displace the old. Our job now is to be aggressive in making that happen. The Apostle Paul says, “Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11 NIV). In other words, render effective what Jesus did on your behalf.

In Galatians 5:16–17, we are challenged to live by the new nature. “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” That means you allow the Holy Spirit, now living in you, to shape your thoughts, guide your steps, govern your reactions and correct you when you stray. The old nature is real. But God enables and empowers you to walk in victory.

Day 14: Resisting the Devil

How do you need the Holy Spirit's help in your life right now? You can talk with someone who would love to help you overcome your old nature.

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member