Genesis 1:31 - And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Recently, Reuters News Service carried a very serious article about trade problems between China and the United States.

Maybe I should say the article tried to be serious. Me? I had a hard time not laughing when I read it.

In a nutshell, here's the story: Because of food safety concerns, the U.S. is worried about Chinese chicken imports. In fact, they may extend a ban on the importation of Chinese chicken products.

In retaliation, China has stopped issuing import permits for American chicken. And that means America has an oversupply of chicken feet. Yes, chicken feet. More than half of our Chinese chicken exports are in the form of chicken feet. The creative cooks of China apparently transform these feet into tasty soups, stews, and snack items.

It was that last part about how chicken feet are used, which made me chuckle. In my mind I saw somebody opening up a potato chip can and pouring out chicken feet, or a bunch of folks watching the Super Bowl munching on buffalo-style chicken feet. Then I began to wonder how one tells a good chicken foot from a bad chicken foot? Do you thump it like a watermelon? What does a person look for?

In the midst of this silliness, a serious thought finally emerged and made itself heard. That thought was triggered by the verse above. When the Lord created the world, He saw everything as being very good. That means everything!

While I may see a tree with its rough bark, the Lord saw quinine and aspirin. Where I see a mold that needs to be wiped out, the Lord saw penicillin. Where I see chicken feet, the Lord sees an opportunity for Chinese cooks to get creative and feed their families.

May I take that line of thinking one step further? Where humanity saw Jesus' crucifixion as the death of a troublemaker, our heavenly Father saw His Son's sacrifice as the payment that had to be offered if our sins were to be forgiven and our salvation won.

Jesus' death and resurrection -- even someone like myself who has limited vision, can see that is "very good."

THE PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, for giving us a world, which, in spite of sin, remains a wonderful place, my deepest thanks. Today I ask that You enable me to see things through Your eyes. Let me clearly see and appreciate Your ongoing handiwork, which preserves and keeps me. And let the world see Your gracious love, which sacrificed Your Son to save our souls. In His Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 67, 71    Philippians 2

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