Snow In The Bible – 12 Days Of Christmas
Here Steph discusses snow in the Bible in her series entitled “The 12 Days of Christmas.” Steph reminds us that our sins can be as white as snow.
White Blanket Of Snow
A glistening white blanket of freshly fallen snow … pristine … not a footprint in sight. Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?
I’ve definitely seen things that rival this amazing sight, but snow sparkling like diamonds definitely ranks in the top ten wonders I’ve witnessed. The colder the temperature, the more the snow glistens.
I have happy memories of walking in the snow, building snowmen and snow forts with my dad, making snow angels, and tobogganing down snow-covered hills. I even have one extra special memory of standing outside looking at my childhood home after dark. The yard was covered in a thick blanket of snow. Floodlights bathed the front of the house in blue and green. (It must have been December after Dad had put up the Christmas lights.) Two large owls came soaring over the top of the house. I could only see their silhouettes. It was incredible.
Snow in the Bible
Now, you may think that I love winter. Truth be told, I like it well enough—when I can observe it from the warmth of my front window or a pre-heated car. The biting cold is not one of my favourite things. (That part of winter never was.) Still, there is so much to learn from each snowfall. The Bible actually has two dozen references to the fluffy white stuff.
Isaiah 1:18 is the first such verse that comes to mind. It says,
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
Snow covers the dirty-looking browns and greys of late autumn, but it does not take them away. However, when God forgives our sin, He promises in Psalm 103:12 that “as far as the east is from the west, so far [do I] remove [your] transgressions from [you].” (changes mine)
Sin Paid
We must come to saving faith through belief in the substitutionary death of the Lord Jesus Christ and His resurrection. We have all sinned, as it says in Romans 3:23. The price for that sin had to be paid, and Jesus did that on the cross.
Many of us are familiar with John 3:16, but it is important to read the entire passage. Verse 18 says, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
Our insistence at having our own way and doing what we want when we want are like the bare branches and lifeless foliage of autumn. But God wants to do more than simply cover our sin, our spiritual lifelessness. And I’m so thankful for that.
Sinning Christians
Will we continue to sin even after we become Christians? Yes. Does God see us differently than we see ourselves? He does. He sees us through that substitutionary death of His Son. And practically speaking, the longer we walk with Him, the more we will desire to live the life He wants us to live; the more we will want to follow His guidance and obey His directives, the more we will want to make Him known.
No matter what season, no matter where we live, we can learn about the Lord from His creation.
Snowfall Prayers
Let’s use each snowfall as a springboard for our prayers. Let’s teach our children to do the same. Here are some suggestions:
“Lord, thank You for the beauty of Your creation. I especially want to thank You for …”
“Thank You, God, for the fun I can have in winter. I love to …”
“Thank You that I have a warm home and warm clothes.”
“Thank You, Father God, that for many of us, winter means Christmas, and Christmas means we can once again focus on the best gift of all, Your Son, the Lord Jesus. Forgive us for rushing here and there and not taking the time to be still and marvel at the real reason for this—and every—season.”
“Teach me how to share the real meaning of Christmas with others. I ask You to bring many of them to saving faith, Lord.”
“God, thank You that You don’t just cover my sin. You actually take it away when I become a Christian. May I rejoice in that and learn what it really means for my everyday life.”
“Father, may I want to obey You more every day.”
There is nothing special about these prayers, but they can serve as springboards for your own.
Click here to read the first post in the series.
How do you trim your Christmas tree? Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
Steph Nickel
Steph Beth Nickel is eclectically interested and eclectically involved. In all she does, Steph seeks to nurture and inspire. She is currently working on the first book in a nonfiction series. Nurture and Inspire LOVE is a compilation of the first devotionals she wrote for HopeStreamRadio.
Steph is a freelance writer and editor. She is the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’ award-winning memoir, Living Beyond My Circumstances, published by Castle Quay Books. Deb and Steph are working on a follow-up book.
You can visit her website, stephbethnickel.com, to learn more about her.
Visit Steph’s contributor’s page or at Steph Nickel’s Eclectic Interests.
More Podcasts to Enjoy:
More Blogs
Christmas Through the Eyes of a Shepherd
This Unusual Summer: Sheltering In Place TBR Pile
Images Courtesy of:
Magurka Mountain Snow – Adam Hoffman
White Lamb – Aron Cody
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