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Listen while you read: "Tell Me The Old Old Story"1 (Lyrics) |
Genesis 8:22 – As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease. (NIV)
One of the first songs that I ever learned in Sunday school was an old spiritual called "Who built the ark?" It tells the story of the animals going into the ark in different numbers, and the fun part of the song came in the motions that our class would make to imitate the different animals. It was a great way to learn the story. Later on, my own kids were taught about Noah the same way, using a different song called "Arky, Arky".
Noah and the ark is a great biblical story to tell to children because it allows them to use their wonderful imaginations and learn about God's love for all creatures. As adults, however, the story has different implications about good and evil, punishment and wrath, promises and hope.
Today's highlighted verse from the story reminds us that as long as the earth endures, the seasonal cycles will continue. However, I believe that it also places the responsibility of good stewardship of the earth on human beings not to destroy, pollute, or contaminate it, as we are reminded on this Earth Day. After the flood, God handed back the world to human beings like Noah, in words reminiscent of His charge to Adam and Eve:
Genesis 9:1b-2 – Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands. (NIV)
It's now up to us to preserve the planet.
Points to ponder: What am I doing to keep the environment clean? How does it relate to my faith?
Prayer: Creator God, You gave us this beautiful planet, and You wanted us to take care of it. Help us to do whatever we can to keep the earth, its creatures, and its environment healthy and safe. In Your holy name, we humbly pray. Amen.
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Amen.
Amen, John.
Dear John Stuart,
Very necessary.
Thanks. Keep writing.
Hi John
Thanks for the reminder that we are the caretakers of the environment and to do what we can after all God gave it all to us to look after.
God bless.
I’m an enthusiastic environmentalist.
Thank you for writing on this topic.
I hear even of Christians who refuse to accept climate change and our responsibility to act.
Doesn’t fit for me!
Greetings John,
Thank you for another inspiring devotional. Yes, how thankful we need to be for this earth all its beauty that the Lord has given us and we must be ever alert to keep it in good condition. Enjoyed the reflection on the songs of Sunday school days. I still enjoy doing those old time action songs with my great-grandchildren.
Blessings to you,
(B.C.)
John,
Thank you for the timely “earth day” reminder that we must do our part to look after our earth. The plastic situation is one that we can exercise our thoughtful purchase such as bottled water. Not sure if we can pressure manufacturing company with their plastic packaging methods but hope that will happen. We have a good recycling program in our small city and want restaurants of all sizes to do their part. We have areas that volunteers of clubs/schools etc. do their part at least monthly if not more to get the litter picked up. This education of litter must continue to be done in schools at an early age. I enjoy the opportunity to read the daily devotional. Thank you for your contribution of The Old Song.
Hi John. Your devotional takes me back to a time as I walked my dog down a trail surrounded on each side by brown dead plants. It looked so despairing after walking down this same trail on the beautiful days of September. A strange question popped into my mind at that time, Can these bones live? or can there ever be new life in this field again?
Seems unrelated but the answer that came to mind was the scripture you quoted. Life will continue springtime and harvest and we are to be part of it and never give up hope. Our Lord has a plan for each of us as surely as the seasons will continue.
Bless you.