Embracing Kingdom Hope for a Broken World
Green Verses
Mark 4:35-41
Aug 24th
Green Verses: a series which seeks to highlight scriptures that point to God as the Creator, His sovereignty over the earth, His redemption of the earth, and our call to participate in that redemption. Take a moment and reflect on what God might be saying through His Word.
Mark 4:35-41
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
When surrounded by all of the natural disasters and challenges we encounter today, we often forget that the Lord is in control of even the wind and the sea. Remember that in the Bible the sea often symbolized chaos; it was something that could not be controlled. Our Lord has control even over the “uncontrollable.” Where in your life do you need to recognize the Lord’s control over the challenges you face?
Also consider:
Luke 12:6
Aug 17th
Green Verses: a series which seeks to highlight scriptures that point to God as the Creator, His sovereignty over the earth, His redemption of the earth, and our call to participate in that redemption. Take a moment and reflect on what God might be saying through His Word.
Luke 12:6
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.
I love how this verse highlights the value of all of creation. Here we see that what we might regard as insignificant is highly appreciated, looked after, and cared for by God.
In this particular verse, Jesus specifically emphasizes the importance of God’s creatures. Listen to what my friend Ben DeVries of Not One Sparrow has to say about this:
And if God places so much value in each of his creatures, how can we model ourselves after him by not making an effort to do the same? Every animal is a unique witness to us and the world of God’s grace, and deserves our respect and admiration on behalf of their Creator.
Good word. As followers of Christ, His values should be our values, His concerns our concerns, His care our care, His love our love.
Also consider:
Psalm 104:29-30
Aug 10th
Green Verses: a series which seeks to highlight scriptures that point to God as the Creator, His sovereignty over the earth, His redemption of the earth, and our call to participate in that redemption. Take a moment and reflect on what God might be saying through His Word.
Psalm 104:29-30
When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.
It can be easy to forget God’s role in the restoration of creation. While it is important to do our part, as Christians we must not forget that it is God Himself who is ultimately in control of the restoration. Be sure to pray that the Spirit renew the face of the ground.
Also consider:
Colossians 3:17
Jul 27th
Green Verses: a series which seeks to highlight scriptures that point to God as the Creator, His sovereignty over the earth, His redemption of the earth, and our call to participate in that redemption. Take a moment and reflect on what God might be saying through His Word.
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
I realize that you may look at this verse and not think that it is related to creation care. But it is important that we take note that our efforts to be green or to help the environment are much more than that. They should be done in the name of our Lord. When we do so it should be to care for God’s creation, to serve our Lord, and to witness to our Savior.
Also consider:
Green Verses: Psalm 96:11-13
Jul 20th
Green Verses: a series which seeks to highlight scriptures that point to God as the Creator, His sovereignty over the earth, His redemption of the earth, and our call to participate in that redemption. Take a moment and reflect on what God might be saying through His Word.
Psalm 96:11-13
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord; for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.
I find it so interesting every time I read these scriptures about God’s creation worshipping Him. It is incredible to read how the sea and the forest can sing His praises. This is not some sort of animism. It does reveal, however, that God’s creation brings glory to His name.
If that’s the case, Since that’s the case, what a unique nuance that places on our care of creation. By caring for creation we help it to glorify God’s name. How incredible!
Also consider:
Green Verses: Psalm 24:1
Jul 13th
Green Verses: a series which seeks to highlight scriptures that point to God as the Creator, His sovereignty over the earth, His redemption of the earth, and our call to participate in that redemption. Take a moment and reflect on what God might be saying through His Word.
Psalm 24:1
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it;
In a world driven by ownership, rights, and the protection thereof, we often struggle to understand where God falls into that picture. The Bible is clear, however, that all belongs to God. This concept should impact our lives – my life – a lot more than it does. It should shape our tithing, our stewardship of creation, our entire worldview. Just think how you might act differently if you were fully cognizant of God’s ownership and care for each aspect of creation that you pass by.
Also consider:
Green Verses: Isaiah 24:4-6
Jul 6th
Green Verses: a series which seeks to highlight scriptures that point to God as the Creator, His sovereignty over the earth, His redemption of the earth, and our call to participate in that redemption. Take a moment and reflect on what God might be saying through His Word.
Isaiah 24:4-6
The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers; the heavens languish together with the earth. The earth lies polluted under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt; therefore the inhabitants of the earth dwindled, and few people are left.
It is hard to read scripture like this. But it is important to take a look at them as well. Even if you read this as applying only to the original audience, there are some sobering thoughts here that we should take to heart. It is interesting to see the connection between the curse and the destruction of the earth. What does this say to us today?
Also consider:
Green Verses: 1 Chronicles 29:11
Jun 29th
Green Verses: a series which seeks to highlight scriptures that point to God as the Creator, His sovereignty over the earth, His redemption of the earth, and our call to participate in that redemption. Take a moment and reflect on what God might be saying through His Word.
1 Chronicles 29:11
Yours, O Lord, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.
Sometimes we find ourselves thinking that we fight this battle to care for creation alone. We get the idea that we are in charge. In this verse, David ascribes both the majesty and the rule to the Lord. Our God is truly great. Be sure to praise Him for His greatness and His sovereignty, for He is above all things.
Also consider:
Green Verses: Psalm 95:3-6
Jun 8th
Green Verses: a series which seeks to highlight scriptures that point to God as the Creator, His sovereignty over the earth, His redemption of the earth, and our call to participate in that redemption. Take a moment and reflect on what God might be saying through His Word.
Psalm 95:3-6
For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed. O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
As today is World Oceans Day, it is fitting that we take a look at God’s sovereignty over the sea. Did you know that in the Ancient Near East the sea was representative of chaos? The waters were something that could not be controlled, thus a source of fear and chaos. For this reason, it is so important that God was the creator and controller of the waters. He alone is sovereign over all the elements of creation. As we celebrate World Oceans Day at a time when uncertainty and problems surround the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, let us not forget that the God we serve is in control. The same God that created those waters is able to restore those waters. Please join us as we call upon that same God.
Also consider:
Green Verses: Mark 11:23-24
Jun 1st
Green Verses: a series which seeks to highlight scriptures that point to God as the Creator, His sovereignty over the earth, His redemption of the earth, and our call to participate in that redemption. Take a moment and reflect on what God might be saying through His Word.
Mark 11:23-24
Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Many thanks to Robin who mentioned this verse in a prayer she shared on the Oil Spill Prayer website a few days ago. Do you pray with this sort of confidence? At a time when God’s creatures are dying and ecosystems are being damaged, let us pray to our Lord with confidence.
Also consider:
