The Ocean

Bible Reading: Psalms 8; 104:24-28

Carson loved visiting the aquarium. There was so much to see there, and he not only liked seeing the bigger fish but also the smaller ones and the other creatures that lived in the ocean. He could spend hours watching the tanks and all the different creatures that lived in them.

"Having fun?" Carson's uncle Brett asked.

Carson's younger cousins were running back and forth, shouting out the names of everything they saw, but Carson had chosen to stand and quietly observe the tank in front of him.

Carson nodded. "This is awesome."

"It is. Just think about God's creativity with all of this," Uncle Brett said. "He could have made all the fish look alike, but instead they are different colors, shapes, and sizes."

"Yet they all live together in the ocean." Carson shook his head. "It's amazing."

They continued on in the aquarium for a while before taking a break for lunch. Carson was disappointed to leave. "There's just so much to see. I want to make sure we get to all of it," he said with a sigh as he followed his family away from the tanks.

"We'll see more of it after lunch," Uncle Brett said. "And since you're so interested, maybe we'll have to come back again. Or better yet, maybe you and I could go snorkeling one day."

Carson's eyes widened. "Really?"

Uncle Brett nodded. "I always love seeing more of God's creation. The ocean is filled with even more amazing creatures than we can find here."

"That would be so cool," Carson said.

Uncle Brett nudged his shoulder. "The ocean and all that's in it is pretty amazing, but one of God's most special creations is right here."

"Huh?" Carson glanced at him.

"You!" Uncle Brett said. "God created you and your cousins and me and all people with just as much care as He did all the creatures in the ocean. But He made us in His own image, and when we were separated from Him because of sin, Jesus died and rose again to save us and give us eternal life. I think that makes us pretty special, don't you?"

"Yeah." Carson smiled. "But I'd still love to go snorkeling in the ocean."

–Bethany Acker

How About You?
When you look at the ocean and all the creatures that live in it, does it amaze you? How does it feel to know God made all that and that He made you too? People are God's most special creation, and He loves us so much He sent Jesus to die for us so we could live with Him forever. When you look at God's amazing creation, remember how special you are to Him.

Today's Key Verse:
There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number--living things both large and small. (NIV) (Psalm 104:25)

Today's Key Thought:
God created the oceans and you