“God created the heavens and earth,” says Genesis chapter one verse one. It was formless and void and there was darkness. But God Himself took care of this formless and void creation by creating life. He cares for what He created by creating more to take care of what He created. He needed to create everything that exists. He needed to create all the things that are around us so that we can have life and other things can live as well. How balanced and amazing God made His creation. And how He brought these things into being is another beautiful stroke of amazing work from God in and of itself.

God created the things this world needs by simply speaking them into existence. God simply said, “’Let there be light,’ and there was light.” Light for the world came to be by God saying four simple words. No one but God can call things into existence by simply uttering words. No one can create anything without using something else to create. When we create (which is probably not a good word to use when we “make” something) we must use something else. If we are to create a house, we need wood and metal. If we are going to create a masterful piece of art, we need paint and brushes or whatever material is going to be used. God, however, created out of nothing. He simply could say the word and it came into being. He is the creator which makes Him Lord over all things.

Therefore, when God speaks, God’s creation comes into being. Sometimes in the Bible God speaks and physical things are made. Other times God speaks and wisdom for the human life, laws for the human heart and conscience, forgiveness for the human soul are set into place. When God speaks all sorts of things happen. And because we are God’s “foremost creation,” made in His own image, He has given us a specific task. It says in Genesis chapter one that man will, “have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” We are to rule God’s creation with our lives – more on this in a little bit. But we also have the gift to speak. And we too can “call out.” We can call out from our mouths to God and to His creation.

First, we, too can speak like God speaks. We can speak to God in a language He can understand. It’s a language that we live each day. We can call out to God in our prayers about the things that trouble us. This is a language our God can understand. We can talk about feelings and the things that cause us grief. And this too is a language God understands because He goes through such painful situations with us – He is with us. He goes through them with us and was explicitly dealing with this Himself when His only begotten Son was given to us into death for us. We, too, can speak – and beloved in the Lord, no matter if there is an immediate answer or what seems to be no answer at all – He listens to the voice He gave you – and the heart that comes to Him in prayer. He listens and calls us to speak to Him and others about Him.

As God speaks – He calls us to speak to others about Him. This is hard for us at times. Not because we don’t love our Lord. But rather because there are so many we speak to who don’t love Him. Their main goal is to persecute and to spread lies. They want you and others to see a God who doesn’t care or who had nothing to do with creation. Their lies then, at times, become our lies.

We are called to use the voices that we have to speak about God’s great gifts to others. But sometimes we use our speech to call down threats on others, call attention to unflattering deeds done by others. Sometimes our words are not used for the benefit of our lives created by God – in our families, in our vocations, in our churches by singing praises to Him. Sometimes we use this gift – this same thing that God used to call into existence all we need for body and life – to hurt and defame. We forget to whom our speech belongs. We forget for what purpose God gave us tongues. It certainly was not for the use of hurting the reputation of others and even hurting ourselves. Be careful with this gift. We cannot create all things by simply speaking them into existence, but we can tear down the reputations of the people around us and even hurt ourselves with our words.

God rules all things – simply by His Word He rules. By speaking with His breath He has created all things. By simply speaking man came to be. And as His Word is the standard for all living things – it also comes to pass that the Lord, through His Word, has given us the responsibility to rule.

And God said to man and women, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” God gave dominion to man but God still rules. God’s good creation still remains His creation. Being the “ruler” over the creation does not mean that we own the creation. It’s God’s creation – not ours. But God did give us the job of stewards of His good gifts. He has given to you and to me the responsibility of manager with our dominion over God’s creation.

God loves His creation and He gives us the duty to look after it. How then shall we treat it? How then shall we treat the things entrusted to us? What are we going to do with God’s good gifts to us? Remember who they belong to. They are the Lords. We are simply taking care of what is His. How are we going to use our time our talent and treasures for God’s good purpose? What’s your pledge to your Lord going to be?

Today we make a pledge like we have many times in the past. We will walk up and place our pledge before our Lord in these baskets in front of us today. What will you give back to the Lord who has given you so much? What has our Lord given? All that you have today – and even more.

He has given His only begotten Son to die on the cross for you. That’s more than any of us could ever give to our Lord. But that’s the price that God had to pay for those He loves so much. That’s the price our Lord paid because He wanted you. He wanted you – not for just today but for all eternity. That’s the Gospel truth in which we live today. God creates all that is around us. God preserves you and all creatures. God loves us so very much that He gave His only begotten Son for us. That precious gift is even more spectacular than all the creation that surrounds us. That’s the gift that gives us life. Amen

The peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.