The Earth is the Lord’s

In considering the earth, where do we begin with our understanding and stewardship? How has God designed creation order and how is he calling us to understand creation and have dominion over it? How should we steward the earth as followers of Jesus?

In considering the earth and all of creation, we must begin with God. The scriptures begin with God and creation, saying, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1, ESV). God is the origin and author of all of creation.

Creation begins with God and creation care must begin with God as well. When we honor God, begin with God, and seek to worship God, we naturally care for the world God created and gifted us to steward. The earth is the Lord’s and he has given it to us to steward and to care for as we exercise dominion over it.

The Psalmist tells us, “The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.” (Psalm 24:1-6, ESV).

Because God created and possesses all the Earth and has established it by his hands, we are to follow God’s call of stewardship and obey him, as we worship him, and as we serve him in our stewardship and dominion.

If we are to “ascend the hill of the Lord” and “stand in his holy place”, we must repent from our self-seeking and selfish sinful desires and turn to God for clean hands to serve, and a pure heart, for pure motives, to steward the earth and to steward all of creation. As followers of Jesus, we are to seek the truth of God in his design and purposes as we seek the Lord in the stewardship of all he has given us. When we walk in God’s truth, in God’s integrity, in God’s character, and in God’s values, we receive a good harvest and blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of our salvation. We are blessed in all the earth as we seek God and God’s face in all he has made.

May we see that the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof and may we seek God and seek God’s design, God’s will, and God’s purposes as we care for the earth and all of God’s glorious creation.

A Prayer for Joy in God’s Creation: “O heavenly Father, you have filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works; that, rejoicing in your whole creation, we may learn to serve you with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (#21., Book of Common Prayer, 2019). 

A Prayer for the Stewardship of Creation: “O merciful Creator, your loving hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence, and give us grace to honor you with all that you have entrusted to us; that we, remembering the account we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (#22., Book of Common Prayer, 2019).

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