And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Genesis 1:26 ASV

Thou makest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet:

Psalm 8:6

Thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he subjected all things unto him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we see not yet all things subjected to him.

Hebrews 2:8

What an awesome responsibility God has given to us. We are to have dominion over all of earth. "(Man) is crowned king of nature, invested with a divine authority over creation" (Moffatt).

A recent poll conducted by the authors of Environmental Values in American Culture (MIT Press), revealed some interesting news: Most Americans agree with the statement "Because God created the world, it's wrong to abuse it." Yet, as Christians, many of us generally stay away from groups and organizations working on environmental issues because we suspect they are "New Age." Many groups do, in fact, have New Age ties. This poll, however, shows that most Americans regard care of the planet in the same light as Christians. Rank-and-file Americans want to take better care of the earth for the same reason we do: God made it.

We ought to do a better job of caring for the environment because "the Earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." Nothing in the New Testament suggests that the biblical concern for creation was canceled by the coming of Christ. Quite the opposite. In the risen Jesus Christ we see the first fruits of a renewed creation. So we seek God's help in being earth-keepers today. Christians ought to be the most active and effective environmentalists in America. (Howard A. Snyder - CHRISTIANITY TODAY Magazine)

We need to show the secular public that we are good stewards of God's gifts to us. We need to be responsible caretakers of the earth. This can be done without a New Age philosophy. We can protect and manage our resources with the proper wisdom and respect for God and human life. We can avoid the extremes of: purely secular environmentalism, or over spiritualizing that undercuts good stewardship. We can be good stewards without worshiping "Mother Earth." PBB

Daily Meditations by Pat Nordman ©

June 27

The stranger rose to begin services and several of the congregation rose to leave the church. The substitute preacher told them, "Wait and I'll go with you." So down the aisle he came, with the rest of them. The abrupt closing of the services showed these rude people that here was one minister who would not be treated with such contempt.

Another preacher who took the place of a sick minister also was equal to the occasion: "All who came to worship the minister may leave; those who came to worship God will sing hymn 432." "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth" (1 Corinthians 3:6). There may be an angel in the pulpit so let us beware how we treat the angel.

Pat Nordman ©

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions
Spurgeon's Morning for June 27	Spurgeon's Evening for June 27
"Only ye shall not go very far away." - Exodus 8:28	"Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called." - 1 Corinthians 7:20
Death to the world, and burial with Christ, are experiences which carnal minds treat with ridicule, and hence the ordinance which sets them forth is almost universally neglected, and even contemned. Worldly wisdom recommends the path of compromise, and talks of "moderation."	Beloved, it is not office, it is earnestness; it is not position, it is grace which will enable us to glorify God. God is most surely glorified in that cobbler's stall, where the godly worker, as he plies the awl, sings of the Saviour's love, aye, glorified far more than in many a prebendal stall where official religiousness performs its scanty duties.

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June 27 Ezr 8:1 - 9:15

365 days of Bible Readings Linked to Bible Gaitway TM

Current Bible Question

Why was the dew-covered fleece significant to Gideon?

Previous question and Answer:

In Jesus' parable, what grew into a great tree so that it became home to many birds of the air?

A mustard seed (Luke 13:19)

Today's Devotion

But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.

Job 16:5 (NIV)

A Good Thing

by Cathy Vinson

"It is a good thing for the soul..."

(Heb 13:9)

It seems all over people are in search of just the right medication or herb for their particular allergy, ailment, virus. It is a find when that right
combination is found. For example, "food for the stomach, and the stomach for food" (1 Cor 6:13), a definite and right blend of Creation. We see a poor blend in subzero temperatures. There we learn experientially that our outer organ of skin when exposed to frigid temperatures is not a healthy mixture.

If we were taught truly what is good for the soul, what makes it run at highest effectiveness, fruitfulness, profit and prosperity, wouldn't we stop and listen to what it was?

"These things are good and profitable to men" (Titus 3:8). What are these things, things that we were made for, things that really are good for us? "Being justified by His grace...[leads to] hope of eternal life" (3:7). So good is this that Paul takes his disciple Titus and with passion exhorts him to affirm this "constantly" in his teaching.

Those who would stifle grace are considered to be "opposed to all men" (I Thess 2:15-16). Why? Because we were made for this grace of God like the body for oxygen. He who would withhold it's truth is at heart an enemy of the good.

"It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace..."(Heb 13:9). What then is grace again? It is that aspect in God which would bestow
pleasure, delight to Him in us and to us and cause favorable regard.

Why is philanthropy (philo-love + anthropy-man) even a truth in our universe? Why would God even want to? Why, in God, is there a desire
towards us?

Neither is it ethereal or only abstract. It is tangible. It is manifested. It is incarnated! Come be persuaded about the One Jesus sent from His side.
Come may your soul live!

It is good; it is good. Let no one despise you (Titus 2:15). For your soul's good nourishment, feed, feed and feed.

Send a note to Cathy Vinson , the writer of this devotion.

If we were taught truly what is good for the soul, what makes it run at highest effectiveness, fruitfulness, profit and prosperity, wouldn't we stop and listen to what it was?

Other Whispers from the Wilderness Devotions are found HERE