JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Hebrews 11:3.
“By faith, we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
God’s power is able to speak something into existence. That is what we find at creation in the book of Genesis. God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good.
God also created life among animals of many kinds and the life of human beings. The population of the world is reaching 8 billion people, and each person on this planet matters to God, including you. This says something about our value to God and His value to us.
Psalm 95:6 says, “Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker, for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.”
This Faith-Building verse inspires us to worship God as our Creator in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines His creation of the stars.
According to Isaiah 40, verse 26, the Holy One invites us to probe and ponder this thought: “Lift your eyes to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”
Astronomers estimate that there are at least 100 billion stars in our galaxy alone. The world population clock estimates close to 7.5 billion people living on the earth right now. So, if God can keep track of all the stars He has made, it stands to reason that He won’t lose track of the people He has made either. The point being made in Isaiah 40 is that God is our Creator. He will not grow weary or tired. No one can fathom His understanding. He holds the universe and the world in His hands. He will not let go of those who are captured in the grip of His grace.
God’s creation of the stars is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.
John Shirk
john@wjtl
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the stars in the universe.
David wrote in Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day, they pour forth speech; night after night, they display knowledge.”
The stars in the universe tell us that God is the creator of the universe. Psalm 33:6 says, “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; their starry host by the breath of his mouth.”
The stars also speak of His vastness. In the Milky Way, the galaxy that contains our solar system, astronomers believe there are at least 100 billions stars. That is just our galaxy. Astronomers believe there are more than 100 billion galaxies in the universe.
The stars also speak of God’s unlimited understanding. Psalm 147:4 says, “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.”
Philippians 2:14-16 shows us how we can shine like the stars in the universe for the glory of God- by holding out the word of life and doing everything without complaining and arguing.
The stars in the universe are reasons to believe in God’s good news.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – the message of God’s creation.
In Psalm 19:1, David wrote, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the end of the world.”
The universe is God’s billboard sign to the world, telling us that He is real, He is wise, and He is strong. This world is not the product of chance but the result of God’s choice.
Romans 1:20 says, “Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
Those who follow Jesus are compared to the stars in the universe. Our lives can display the glory of God by reflecting the light of Jesus through wholesome words, sincere love, humble attitudes, and pure motives.
The message of God’s creation is a lesson of faith worth remembering.
