God freely and lovingly created man and gave him the breath of life. God not only provided man with an abundance of good food, but He also blessed man's spirit by creating an environment that was "delightful to look at" (Gn 2:9). All of this was a sheer gift from God. In the world He created, God did not require man to produce his own food; that requirement was chosen by man when Adam and Eve decided to handle their own affairs (Gn 3:19). God appointed man to "care for" the earth (Gn 2:15), and man didn't care. People might say that "God just doesn't care," but the truth is that the injustices of this world occur because man didn't and doesn't care for God's creation.
On Friday, we will hear that the free choice of man is what has caused the disorder that exists in our present world. Even that tragic choice can't change the nature of God. God is good. He loves the people He has created and He provides everything necessary for each one of them. He has not changed (see Heb 13:8; Mal 3:6), and He still sends forth provisions to this earth to provide for our needs (see Mt 5:45; 6:30; Phil 4:19). "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good" (Ps 136:1).
| PRAYER: | Father, thank You for giving me the breath of life. I will spend my life giving thanks and praise to You. |
| PROMISE: | "When You send forth Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth." –Ps 104:30 |
| PRAISE: | Becoming a parent helped Peter better appreciate his heavenly Father. He focuses daily on representing the Father's love to each of his children. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College