And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . six geese a-laying.
The lyrics for the sixth day of Christmas take us back to the first story found in the Bible. Each egg is a day in creation, the time when the world was “hatched” or formed by God. The six days of creation are the first demonstration in the history of the world of God giving his people all the good gifts which they need. Just ponder through the 6 days of creation below and think of all the good gifts which God has put into your life and continues to pour into your life:
Day 1: Light – Where would we be without light?
Day 2: Atmosphere / Firmament – Do we stop to ponder the miracle of the earth’s atmosphere and the blessing of solid ground?
Day 3: Dry ground & plants – When was the last time you stop to truly marvel at all the plants God has given us and how they beautify our world?
Day 4: Sun, moon & stars – How easily we take it for granted that the sun will rise each morning and that our solar system goes on to mark time and seasons!
Day 5: Birds & sea animals – Have you ever tried to think of all the birds and animals in creation and how they add to our enjoyment of our world?
Day 6: Land animals & humans – How easily we take for granted the gift of life and our fellow human beings!
Not only did God give all these gifts to his people for their enjoyment, he also tells us several other things about these gifts. Over and over in the creation account in Genesis 1 we are told “And God saw that it was good.”. This is really saying that God’s creation was perfect in every way. In Genesis 1:28 we are given God’s instructions to every human being “fill the earth and subdue it.”. This is just part of the way in which God told human beings as the crown or most important part of his creation that the creation was put there for their use and enjoyment. This is a great reminder – we do not need to feel guilty or shrink back from using and enjoying the gifts God has given us in creation!
As has been mentioned in previous devotions, this perfect gift was ruined by the receiver of the gift and yet God worked to restore it for their good. This is also a good place to give a simple reminder of the obligation we have to handle and use the gift of creation in a responsible way. Like so many other gifts which our Heavenly Father gives us, it is so temptingly easy to misuse and waste the gifts which we have been given.
Prayer: Heavenly Father – in the midst of the earthly gifts given this Christmas, remind me to stop and ponder the amazing gifts which you have given me in the creation of the world. Let me never lose sight of how richly you have blessed me and help me to treasure and rejoice in the gift of your creation. Amen.