Thursday, July 10

THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014

1 Chronicles 5:18–6:81

Acts 27:21–44

Psalm 8:1–9

Proverbs 18:23,24

 

 

“When I consider your heavens,

    the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

    which you have set in place,

what is mankind that you are mindful of them,

    human beings that you care for them?” (Psalms 8:3,4)

 

 

David explores the greatness of God – “how majestic is your name in all the earth!” – and the humility of man.  Truly God has shown favor to us by granting dominion to man, to act as God’s representatives.  Made in His image, people were to rule both justly and mercifully over the creation and one another.

 

While God has “made” us “a little lower than the angels,” we also recognize our frailty and humility in looking towards a sovereign, holy, and majestic God.  Our beloved song, “I Am a Friend of God,” repeats that line:  “Who am I that You are mindful of me?  That You love me?  That You hear me/ when I call?”  In His awesomeness, God still wishes to draw near to His children.  Both wholly Other and personally intimate!  Amazing!

 

In his book on the “heart” conversation within the Psalms, Alfred Edersheim, a 19th-century writer, noted:  “However low I may sink, there is not a depth but grace goes still deeper.”  In His grace, God has crafted us in His image and intervened on our behalf through Christ as we fell short of that calling.

 

Romans 5:6–8 explains:  “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Let us rejoice in His overabundant grace that brings us into His presence through the blood of Christ.

 

This song video provides beautiful imagery of God’s handiwork and a remembrance of His amazing grace for all peoples:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAdhDGaEHZ.

 

 

Lord God, thank You for sending Your Son to take the place we rightfully deserved.  Thank You for being mindful of us, in both our humility and greatness as made in Your image.  We know that You are the Father of heavenly lights and that every good and perfect gift comes from You.  We thank You for the gifts with which You have blessed us.  Help us to see Your power and goodness on a moment-by-moment basis as we interact with the world You have made.  We praise You for Your awesome power and Your personal intimacy with each of us.  You are the Holy One of Israel.  We worship You, Father.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

 

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