READ: PSALM 19:1-6; JOHN 1:1-14; COLOSSIANS 1:15-20

Have you ever gone to an art gallery? For a graphic design class I took this year, I went on a field trip to a large art gallery, and it got me thinking. Art can be difficult to understand at times, especially abstract art! However, as I learned more about art, I began to recognize the works of different artists. It wasn’t just from their names on the wall or their signatures; their styles, mediums, subjects, and themes became distinct and recognizable to me.

We can learn a lot about an artist from what they create: their values, passions, quirks, and personalities. Often, artists’ work reflects aspects of who they are. Do you ever think of God as an artist? Out of nothing, He created everything—from the farthest star to the deepest cave.

God’s signature is on all creation, and through His work, we can learn more about Him. The ravens teach us about God’s provision and care for the smallest details in our lives (Luke 12:24). The resilience of wild animals shows God’s concern about every part of creation, even that which no human sees (Job 39). The powerful oceans remind us of God’s awesomeness, that He is in control even in the wildest storms (Psalm 89:8-9). The complexity of the human body points to God’s intentional design: we are not here by accident but are wonderfully created in God’s image with a purpose (Genesis 1; Psalm 139:13-16). Though our sin brought brokenness into the good world God made, His loving care is still written all through creation.

And, all creation ultimately points to Jesus. He is fully God and fully human, the Creator who came to live among us. Jesus, the same Artist who crafted everything from nothing, came to save us from sin and death and to make our mess and brokenness into a masterpiece. We can’t do anything to deserve this: it’s God’s beautiful gift of grace, a work of art that we get to share with the world! • Abby Ciona

• What is your favorite part of God’s creation? What could this reveal about its Artist?

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made… Romans 1:20a (NIV)