Wednesday, July 7, 2021
Today’s Scripture
Today’s Author
Jamie Butcher
There was a moment last summer when God’s creation saved me. It was early in the pandemic, and we were stuck at home. Most of the support systems I thought I needed to get through my days were basically gone. You know the drill – no more school, no more toilet paper, no more Starbucks. Thank God for virtual ministry and your generosity that my paycheck wasn’t on the list of “no more.” But many of the ways I knew to get to God were gone - no more sanctuary, no more heavy commentaries, no more people in the pews, no more actual circles of Christians gathered for small groups and committee meetings. My usual talk of God was stale, and I fell silent.
However, I had taken up birding during the stay-at-home orders. And one morning when I was quiet, I heard the earth sing. It was a cacophony really with thousands of notes and untold tunes wafting across the oaks and pines. The birds burst forth, shouted out, and sprang up in praise. Their voices reminded me of the covenant promise of the presence of God even in the midst of pandemic and pain.
In the last few lines of this passage, the prophet Isaiah says it well:
For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.
Summer Devotional
God Goes With Us
This summer’s devotional is a walk through the Bible. Join our pastors and staff for daily reflections on scripture passages from Genesis to Revelation. In the beginning, God said, “I will be your God and you will be my people.” Come and see how this covenant promise changes through time yet remains steadfast from generation to generation.
Each Sunday, Chris Holmes will share a short message on the texts for the week, and written reflections will go out every Monday through Thursday morning.
We wish you blessings and deeper faith this summer!
