This Is My Father's World, ELW 824
1 This is my Father's world, and to my list'ning ears all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world; I rest me in the thought of rocks and trees, of skies and seas ; his hand the wonders wrought.
2 This is my Father's world; the birds their carols raise; the morning light, the lily white, declare their maker's praise.
This is my Father's world; he shines in all that's fair.
In the rustling grass I hear him pass; he speaks to me ev'rywhere.
3 This is my Father's world; oh, let me not forget that, though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world; why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is king, let heaven ring; God reigns, let earth be glad!
Devotion
We struggle to maintain and retain anything that we think belongs to us. We poke fun at children for being selfish and using the word "mine" too often, but we do the same thing as adults. We tend to think that everything we have and receive belongs to us. What we forget is that everything we have, everything we want, and everything we see belongs to someone else. It all belongs to the one who brought it all into existence. The one who created it is none other than God the Father. Maltbie D. Babcock got this right when writing the hymn, "This is My Father's World." When we sing this hymn, we proclaim that everything around us has been created by God. When we ponder the wonders of creation, we hear God's voice and see God's presence among us. We realize that God is the one who has made and possesses everything around us. God has chosen to share his belongings with each and every one of us. Our task is to share what God has given to us with other people.
Prayer
Benevolent God, help us to remember that all we have belongs only to you. As we do so, help us to share your blessings with other people. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.