I remember when I was a little girl studying in school about the Sun, the Moon, the nine planets, and the far away stars. Yes, there were nine planets at that time, including little Pluto. My grandmother used to let me read from her huge family Bible that sat in a prominent place of honor, in her living room.

I loved reading the creation story in Genesis 1 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth…” The story goes on to explain that God created everything in, on, and above the Earth. When he got everything else ready and saw that it was good, he created humankind – male and female – in his own image, and blessed them, turning over the care of all his Earthly creation to humans.

He gave instructions to us to fill the earth and care for it – to tend it. He gave us a Paradise and told us to watch over it, together.

So, of course our Scripture today says – “The Earth is the Lord’s and all who live in it.”

Unfortunately, the filling part of that command has worked out more successfully than the tending part.

Not all the people on the earth look at the Earth with reverence and care. Multitudes look at the Earth as theirs, not God’s own. Multitudes abuse her and her rich treasures. Multitudes fight over her resources and abuse her and deny God’s sovereignty.

God knows that we can’t control other people.

God knows that we even have trouble controlling ourselves!

But, God also knows our hearts and can see our good actions, our efforts to live out his instructions to tend the Earth and to follow His instructions to LOVE one another.

If we Christians all band together in LOVING the Earth and ALL her people, we can make a difference. We can show God and all mankind that we know whose we are and that we live for and in HIM. So, let’s join our hearts and hands and do just that!

Dear Lord, show us the way we should go. Help us to love and forgive, to nurture and tend your Earth and all her inhabitants, just as you commanded us to do.

In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

This devotion was written and read by Bernice Howard.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.