Snow Storm Devotional from Pastor Justin

Since we didn't meet for worship this Sunday morning, I wanted to send along a small, snow-inspired devotion to you...

 
Five Lessons from the Snow Storm

 
1. God is powerful over all of Creation.

 
Nature clearly reveals attributes of God. Paul points this out clearly in Romans 1, specifically stating that "his eternal power and divine nature" are made known (Romans 1:20). Yesterday, during the snow storm, I could not help but remember how powerful God is. Every flake of snow that blanketed the region, all 16 inches of snow fell to the earth in accordance to God's command. As Psalm 147:16-17 says,

"He gives snow like wool; he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.  He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold?" 
 

God with His sovereign power has provided the snow and with His sovereign power He will soon melt it (hopefully really soon!). Let the Snow Storm of '09 remind you of God's unimaginable power.

2. Our plans are feeble and ultimately outside of our control.

 
A local news station named this storm "Shopper Stopper 2009." It is clever and true. The storm almost completely halted Christmas shopping on what is supposed to be one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. The storm canceled church and grounded air travel, stranding thousands. While this storm reveals God's power, it equally reveals our weakness. In reality we are never really in control of even the most ordinary areas of our lives, like Christmas shopping. In light of the snow storm, remember James 4:13-16: 

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit' -- yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.  What is your life?  For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.  Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'  As it is, you boast in your arrogance.  All such boasting is evil."

3.  Praise God for a roof and a heater and pray for those who don't have them.

 
God is continually showing me how many blessings I take for granted. Through this storm God has shown me once more how many things I fail to praise Him for: like a roof . . . and electricity . . . and heat . . . and extra layers of clothes . . . food. I couldn't even imagine what this storm would be like without these modern, often overlooked, essentials. And yet for some in our own area, and for countless millions around the world, these daily essentials are outside of their reach. The truth is, this storm has been an annoyance, but an amusing one. Watching my son Luke play in the snow and then retreating into a warm house with hot food, soft blankets, and a loving family has been great. Many of you feel the same way. Praise God for that. And then remember to pray for all of those around our world who do not have the luxuries that we do.

4.  In the fullness of time God sent His Son and a Roman census couldn't stop Him.

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered." (Luke 2:1). 
 

With one word massive amounts of people were required to take a forced vacation in order to register in the city of their fathers. Talk about an inconvenience! And in the throngs of travelers there was a pregnant teenager carrying the Son of God. In light of the difficulties this snow storm has caused, and aware of all the plans this one simple storm has thwarted, I stand in awe of God that a census couldn't hamper His plans. Instead of the census dismantling God's design, it was actually fulfilling it (see Micah 5:2). My plans have effectively been destroyed, but God's never will. A snow storm and a census have taught me that.

5.  In Christ, I am as pure as the fallen snow!

 
What a beautiful thought! Every time I see large amounts of snow, I cannot help but think about it.  

"Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:  though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." (Isaiah 1:18). 
 

Each of us know how sinful we are. We know the deep, dark things we have done. We have soiled our lives with sin. But through a relationship with Christ, we are made clean -- white as snow. Christ came as a baby to die on a Cross; and one of the reasons He came was so that you would be dazzlingly white, clean as the new fallen snow!

 
I hope and pray you are having a good, warm weekend.

 
God Bless,

Pastor Justin