Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10
In many parts of America, now is the time for heavy snowstorms. Snow for building snow forts and snowmen – the delight of all red-blooded American children. Snow to be shoveled and reshoveled – the plague of all middle-aged men.
A little four-year-old boy named David recently asked his mother, “Why does God let it keep snowing so much?” The mother’s answer is worth pondering. She told David, “God is making it snow because He thinks we’ve been going too fast and should slow down.” It’s true that snow slows us down. We complain because snow-covered streets prolong our drive to work. Some of our planned trips or evenings of entertainment need to be cancelled.
Could such delays be good for us? Are you spending some time with your family? Have you taken the time to play with your children and really get to know them as human beings? The snow may be a blessing in disguise. Use the time to relax at home. Light up a fire and pop some popcorn. Have some real enjoyment with the family. Try relaxing and reflecting a little on your life.
Perhaps God is saying to us: Slow down and think. Through our text He reminds us how great He is and how much in control. When we slow down, God has a chance to enter our thoughts. He can point us to the passing of time and to our many shortcomings. He can remind us that His own Son Jesus Christ came into this world to bring us salvation. Jesus did not always hurry. He took time out to go on a mountain alone to pray. He relaxed at the home of His friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Even His suffering and death were basically passive. He did not concoct some activist plot to conquer the world. Rather He remained silent while His captors put Him to death.
Perhaps we need more snow time to think about God and His Son Jesus Christ and to make Him a part of our family life.
PRAYER: Thank You, Lord God, for the snow and for the opportunity to slow down so we can spend time with You and with each other. Amen.
(Devotions from “My Daily Devotion” by Dr. Stephen J. Carter, copyright 1988, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. For ordering information, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: Genesis 23-24 Matthew 17
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