[Dailydevo] Daily Devotion Wednesday February 8, 2006

[Barry Ludwig]

Daily Devotion Wednesday  February 8, 2006

The daily devotions this week are written by Pastor Ludwig. The theme this
week is "Healing."

 

Genesis 1:28

God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and  multiply, and fill
the earth and subdue it; and have dominion  over the fish of the sea and
over the birds of the air and  over every living thing that moves upon the
earth."

 

The Genesis text above seems rather strange to use as the basis of a
spiritual thought about healing. It contains perhaps the only commandment
from God that we humans have kept (multiply and fill the earth) and then God
commands us to "subdue" the earth. What has this to do with healing?

 

When we properly understand what God means to "subdue" the earth, we can be
God's agents of healing for our beautiful planet. The word "subdue" is a
poor rendering of two Hebrew words that mean to have control over and to
rule over.  God commands us to control and rule over the earth in a way that
expresses His understanding of Kingship. In the Old Testament, a good King
cares for the oppressed and poor ("the orphan and widow and jobless
foreigner"). Good calls us to care for the earth in a way that protects it
from damage and neglect. When we do that, then we bring healing to God's
creation.

 

This morning in the news, there is a big splash about Evangelical Christians
(like Rick Warren) beginning a push against global warning. Interestingly,
three years ago when the 5 million member ELCA issued a social statement
which spoke about the need to address global warming, no newspaper , radio
or TV news broadcast mentioned it.  It is time for us to be the healers of
creation in the name of our creator-God. This day, explore ways in which you
might conserve. Contact your legislators and be God's agents of healing.

 

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