January 2025 - Volume 57 - Number 1
Whoever wrote the words, “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow,” never had to shovel it, or drive in it, or walk very far in it. Aside from the “inconveniences” of shoveling, walking, or driving, snow can actually be quite beautiful. It should also remind us of God’s power and control over the earth.
Elihu makes this observation in Job 37:5-6, “God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things we cannot comprehend. For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.”
God asks this question of Job and his friends in Job 38:22, “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail?” As we struggle to walk, drive, or shovel, God reminds us there is a whole lot more where that came from. And he sends it to the earth as he desires. Even as every preacher asks, “But why on Saturday night or Sunday morning?”
No doubt you could Google “snow” and find a lot of articles reminding us how important snow is to our eco-system. You could learn a lot you never knew before, or have forgotten. But there is one value from snow that even Google does recognize—God uses the image of snow to remind us how beautiful his forgiveness is. David writes in Psalm 51:7, “Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.”
As snow covers a multitude of ugliness in our yards, so God’s forgiveness covers a multitude of ugliness in our spiritual lives. But here’s a tremendous difference. Snow will melt in the spring and the ugliness returns. But God’s forgiveness never melts. He constantly covers our sins with his love and forgiveness, and relates to us as if there never was any ugliness in our lives. He wants us to relate to each other in the same way—to see the beauty in each other and not the ugliness. It may be difficult at times, but as we develop his eyes and see each other through his eyes, we begin to see his beauty covering each of us. And perhaps more difficult, we need to see ourselves through his eyes, and see the beauty he sees, and not focus on the ugliness.
Perhaps our prayer should be, “Go ahead, God, and let it snow on us, that we see your beauty in ourselves, and each other.”
Looking Ahead
January 16 (and for six Thursday evenings), a study of the Eldership. Discover God’s expectations of the eldership in his church.
January 18, Winterfest, for youth, in St. Louis.
Feb. 9, Superbowl Party. We don’t know who will be playing, but for many people, it does not matter. Celebrating together is all the reason we need.
Thanks for reading,
Rick
Elihu makes this observation in Job 37:5-6, “God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things we cannot comprehend. For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.”
God asks this question of Job and his friends in Job 38:22, “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail?” As we struggle to walk, drive, or shovel, God reminds us there is a whole lot more where that came from. And he sends it to the earth as he desires. Even as every preacher asks, “But why on Saturday night or Sunday morning?”
No doubt you could Google “snow” and find a lot of articles reminding us how important snow is to our eco-system. You could learn a lot you never knew before, or have forgotten. But there is one value from snow that even Google does recognize—God uses the image of snow to remind us how beautiful his forgiveness is. David writes in Psalm 51:7, “Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.”
As snow covers a multitude of ugliness in our yards, so God’s forgiveness covers a multitude of ugliness in our spiritual lives. But here’s a tremendous difference. Snow will melt in the spring and the ugliness returns. But God’s forgiveness never melts. He constantly covers our sins with his love and forgiveness, and relates to us as if there never was any ugliness in our lives. He wants us to relate to each other in the same way—to see the beauty in each other and not the ugliness. It may be difficult at times, but as we develop his eyes and see each other through his eyes, we begin to see his beauty covering each of us. And perhaps more difficult, we need to see ourselves through his eyes, and see the beauty he sees, and not focus on the ugliness.
Perhaps our prayer should be, “Go ahead, God, and let it snow on us, that we see your beauty in ourselves, and each other.”
Looking Ahead
January 16 (and for six Thursday evenings), a study of the Eldership. Discover God’s expectations of the eldership in his church.
January 18, Winterfest, for youth, in St. Louis.
Feb. 9, Superbowl Party. We don’t know who will be playing, but for many people, it does not matter. Celebrating together is all the reason we need.
Thanks for reading,
Rick
YOUTH
