I welcome to today's word of encouragement from your friends at Our Daily Bread.

The reading for today titled, Not Luck, but Christ, was written by Marvin Williams.

Discover Magazine suggests that there are around 700 quintillion, that's seven, followed by

20 zeros, planets in the universe, but only one like Earth.

Astrophysicist Eric Zacherson said that one of the requirements for a planet to sustain life

is to orbit in the Goldilocks zone where the temperature is just right and water can exist.

Out of 700 quintillion planets, Earth seems to be one planet where conditions are just right.

Zacherson concluded that Earth somehow had been dealt a fairly lucky hand.

Paul assured the Colossian believers that the universe existed not because of Lady

Luck, but because of the work of Jesus. The Apostle presents Christ

as the creator of the world, for in Him all things were created. Not only was Jesus the

powerful creator of the world, but Paul says that in Him all things hold together, a world that's not too hot nor too cold,

but one that's just right for human existence.

What Jesus created, he's sustaining with his perfect wisdom and unceasing power.

As we participate in and enjoy the beauty of creation, let's choose not to

point to the random activity of Lady Luck, but to the purposeful, sovereign, powerful, and

loving one who possesses all God's fullness.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from the Apostle Paul's writings in

Colossians, Chapter 1, verses 15 through 20.

The sun is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for in him,

all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether

thrones or powers or rulers or authorities.

...