Monday, October 12, 2026

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre! He covers the heavens with clouds; He prepares rain for the earth; He makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry. (Psalm 147:7-9)

People who follow the religious belief of deism believe that God created the world but then backed away from His creation to let it run on its own. According to deists, God generally does not involve Himself in the daily life of the world or its people. In opposition to this false idea about God and His work, Holy Scripture tells us the truth about our Creator. God has not abandoned the world and the people He created.

Our Creator is very involved in the daily life of His creation. He sustains the world and all of its creatures. God sets the clouds in the sky as He prepares to send rain on the thirsty earth. He makes the grass grow to feed livestock and wild animals. He provides food for wild birds and beasts. He causes springs of water to “gush forth in the valleys,” to “give drink to every beast of the field” (Psalm 104:10b, 11b). God sends rain and “the earth is satisfied” with His loving work (Psalm 104:13b). Through His care for creation, God testifies to His own power and glory: “He did not leave Himself without witness, for He did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:17). Although many people like to imagine that they are free from such divine oversight and care, they are not. God “gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place” (Acts 17:25b-26).

God’s love for the world and the people He made extends far beyond the provision of crops and rain. Although in sinful pride people reject their Creator’s love and refuse to acknowledge His majesty, God reached down in mercy to save the people He created and loves. He sent His Son, our Lord Jesus, to suffer and die on the cross and by His death to reconcile the world to Himself. God calls on all people to repent and believe the good news of Jesus’ saving work. God’s care for His creation becomes a lesson about His love for us, love that will continue into eternity: “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26).

WE PRAY: Lord God, each day You care for me and for all of creation. I will praise You with songs of thanksgiving! Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.

Reflection Questions:

1. If God created the world but then wasn’t concerned about it, would the birth of Jesus make sense?
2. What does Scripture tell us about God’s involvement in creation?
3. How ought we to care for the natural world around us? For the people around us?

Today's Readings:

Micah 4-5
Acts 21:18-40

Archive

All | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 |

Large Print