STUCK IN A SNOWY VALENTINE DAY

The last few days we have been blessed with snow. We have thirteen inches of it for Valentines Day. We love it. Memories of winters past come to mind of being snowed in on the farm, snowy days in Kodiak like the night Rachel was born, and a snowy day here right after our son Elijah was born.

In each case we were stuck here. Being stuck means time to relax, read, think, and pray. It’s good to be stuck since it comes right after “stop.” Stuck is a time to be thankful for the spiritual cleansing God offers to those who put their faith in Christ. The result is He promises to forgive and make us “whiter than snow.” Think about it.

Why is snow white? A weather expert says, “When light hits snow, it moves through it– reflecting and refracting off all of the tiny ice crystals. As light reflects back toward us off the ice crystals, we get the whole spectrum. Since no particular color absorbs, the light reflected and therefore the snow, is white!“ How cool! Not sure I totally understand that but I’ll accept it. Believers are made “whiter than snow.” Not sure I can fully grasp that level either. But God does promise it. Psalm 51 affirms that David sinned greatly but was spiritually cleansed that white.

If you have received that forgiveness be thankful. If not then bow, confess your sinfulness, and ask Christ for that forgiveness because of the cleansing power of His cross. Note these verses below that use snow to illustrate His truth.

Psa_51:7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Isa_1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.

Lam_4:7 Her consecrated ones were purer than snow, They were whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than corals, Their polishing was like lapis lazuli.

Mat_28:3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

Rev_1:14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.

Click below to see our album of Valentine snow pictures from this morning.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/MKJzSewAYXQ1Bqeu9

Happy Valentines Day to my Valentine. MES

A THEOLOGY OF SNOW

We are enjoying 10” of fresh snow here so all services and activities at Discovery are cancelled this weekend of Feb. 10th. Watch www.discoverybaptist.org or the community.discoverybaptist.org for any further cancellations or announcements on the home pages.

Like many in Gig Harbor, we woke up the white stuff this morning. We have lived in Alaska and like playing in it as the picture suggests. But I am also reminded that snow is mentioned in Scripture to speak of some important theological truths.

There are 21 references to snow in the Bible. It is used negatively and positively. The first reference is of God giving signs to Moses to convince the people of his mission. One of the signs was making the hand of Moses leprous like “snow.” Then restoring it to normal.

“The LORD furthermore said to him, "Now put your hand into your bosom." So he put his hand into his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow.” (Exodus 4:6) Snow pictured the dreaded disease of leprosy that only God could heal. When the people saw the hand restored (v.7) they knew Moses was sent from God.

Snow also pictures judgement. For example Miriam, the sister of Moses, opposed him. “But when the cloud had withdrawn from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow.” (Numbers 12:10)

I like the the references that speak of how snow pictures God’s spiritual washing of the sin that we have when we seek God’s forgiveness in Christ.

• Psalm 51:7 “Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow”

• Proverbs 25:13 “Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters.” Christ is the messenger to bring the refreshing message of grace to us in the heat of harvest.

• Isaiah 1:18a "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow;…”

• Matthew 28:3 “And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.” This related verse is speaking of the angel that rolled away the stone of Christ’s tomb at His resurrection showing His power over death.

These final references all point in a descriptive and beautiful way to God.

• Daniel 7:9a "I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow…”

• Revelation 1:14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.

So…enjoy the snow this weekend and remember God’s message to us with every flake that falls.

The God Who Speaks, the new adult Sunday School series, will start Sunday Feb. 17th at 9:15 in the auditorium and is led by Fred Wetzel. Lesson 1 is “Is the Bible Really the Word of God.”