Life Notes—June 23, 2011
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet, all sheep and oxen, and also all the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:3-9
One of the stumbling blocks for me, and I’m sure many of you, is that when I ponder the awesomeness of the God I believe in, I can have difficulty accepting what I believe. You see, I believe God hears and responds to my prayers, as I believe God hears and responds to the prayers, spoken and unspoken, of everyone. I believe God has been present within, beside and around me every moment of my life; yet I believe God has been equally present within, beside and around everyone else every moment of their lives. Although I cannot fathom how, I believe God created the plants and trees and animals and birds that thrive throughout the earth, as well as the moons and stars and galaxies we see in the night sky. When I see another stunningKansassunset, with flaming fingers of orange and red and pink stretching from the horizon to where I stand, I see God’s signature work across a vast blue canvas. And I am amazed. And I am awed. It is simply majestic.
So how can such a mighty, omniscient, omnipresent Being know about and care for me (and you)? I am one of approximately 6 billion people, all God’s creation, alive on earth today. I am but one of many more who have lived on earth since the dawn of creation. How is it possible for God to be mindful of all of us, individually?
I don’t pretend to understand, but Psalm 8 assures us God is not only mindful of us, but God created us only a little lower than God! Is God so big, yet also capable of showering so much love and attention on every single part of such a vast creation? Sometimes I imagine soaking up warm sunlight on a long stretch of beach. If I lie on that beach and hoard as much sun as I possibly can, there is still plenty left for as many other people as can crowd onto the beach with me, and infinitely more to spare. No, I won’t ever understand how or why God shines on me, at least not this side of the grave. But I am thankful God knows, loves and attends to me; and no matter how much attention God gives me, there is plenty left for you. How majestic, indeed!
This Sunday Tom will be preaching downtown. Life worship is at 9:40 in Brady Hall. Traditional worship is at 8:30 and 11:00 in the sanctuary. Mitch‘s sermon at the west campus is “A Rock and A Hard Place,” based on Genesis 22:1-14. Contemporary worship at the west campus is at 9:00 and 11:00.
Come home to church this Sunday. Come experience and celebrate the majesty!
Greg Hildenbrand, Life Music Coordinator
Contemplating Grace 