Verse of the Day - Hebrews 1:3a

The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.
~ Hebrews 1:3a (NIV)

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I think sometimes we forget all that Jesus is. Yes, we understand that He walked the earth and taught us many things. Yes, He came to die for our sins. Yes, He rose on the third day and ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. Yes, to all those things, and they are huge on their own -- because He is God. And for God to bend down to earth to touch our tears with real hands and hold our hurts with real arms is mind-boggling...and humbling.

But Jesus is also the Creator AND Sustainer of this world! Everything in nature was created by HIM! The rocks and trees, the sun and moon, every flower that has EVER bloomed on this planet -- all created by Jesus! John declares this right up front in his gospel of Jesus . . .

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ~ John 1:3 (NIV)

And the writer of Hebrews declares that He holds all things together, as Sustainer of the universe! Do you know that if Jesus spoke the word, the sun could shift a fraction, and we'd all either burn up or freeze to death? If He gave the word, gravity could cease to exist, and we'd be launched into space! That is HUGE! It just causes me to pause, as I recognize that I sometimes put Jesus in a little box that says Holy Bible -- Red Letter Edition.

The Son is the radiance of God's glory . . .

Our worship team is bringing a new song to our congregation this Sunday, called "Cover the Earth", that's been running through my mind since rehearsal last night. It goes like this...

Let me be an instrument
To exalt and to extend
Jesus’ name globally
As the waters cover the sea
Open the heavens O Lord
And pour out Your Spirit

Let me speak what You say
Let the sound prepare the way
Kingdom come globally
As the waters cover the sea
Open the heavens O Lord
Pour out Your Spirit

Cover the earth with Your glory
Cover the earth with Your glory
Cover the earth with the sound of heaven . . .
~ Cover the Earth, by Israel Houghton

Just as Jesus has His hand on the mighty seas and the waves that crash on the sand, so He has His hand on His people, moving them in a mighty way by His Spirit to extend the glory of God over all the earth!

The Great Sustainer holds the universe together, holds His church together, and holds us individually together -- all for the glory of God! May we glorify and praise His name today and every day, as we love and serve Him Who holds all things together by His great love and mercy.

Love,
Joelene