1-28-15 The Heavens Declare

1The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

2Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they reveal knowledge.

3They have no speech, they use no words;

no sound is heard from them.

4Yet their voice^b goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. (Psalm 19)

19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (Romans 1:19,20)

Thoughts: Psalm 19 and Romans 1 speak of God showing Himself through creation.  The heavens declare God's power and glory.  Even scientists talk about the enormous power it takes to start the Big Bang (13 x 1054 megatons). His eternal power and god-like power are seen in the creation of the world (Ro. 1:20). But we tend to dilute and pollute the knowledge of God that we are able to see in the creation.  While the fingerprint of God is in creation- our own blindness distorts what should be plain.  Pain and human suffering (like in the holocaust) can keep us from clearly understanding the truth of God in creation.   

Prayer: Lord, help me to have eyes to see beyond the evil and suffering of life to see your hand working in the world. 

1/30/13- God's Reflection in Creation

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. (Psalm 19:1,2)

¹⁹ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.  (Romans 1:19,20)

Thoughts: The tenet below mentions that the creation reflects God's glory just as God's image is in us.  Yet creation and God's image in us is marred by decay, pollution, and sin so that the pristine image of God- the full reflection- is dimmed.  Paul said on this side we see through a mirror dimly.  On the one hand we can look up and see hundreds of thousands of stars and think of the One who created it all.  On the other hand, a tornado tears through a community and we wonder how could this reflect God's glory.  Yet, even in pain and suffering it is possible to see God at work.  Weather, weariness, and wickedness (www) all humble us so we realize we are not God.  But instead of simple self-reliance, we must call on the One beyond us for help, grace, and strength.  There is a sense that even in the plagues of Egypt God is glorified.  To the unbeliever it is all (both joy and sorrow; beauty and ugly; good and evil) chaos and without meaning and hope.  To the believer, it is not all easily understood, but we never give up hope and  the belief that God will see us through.

Prayer: In ice and heat, calm and storm, joy and sorrow, help me to trust in you.  

God has no need of anyone or anything beyond Himself. Yet in grace this Triune God is the one Creator of all things. The ongoing act of creation is further manifested in God’s gracious sovereignty and providence, maintaining the existence of the world and all living creatures for the sake of His own glory.  He is the Holy One, the ground of all being, whose glory is so great that for us to see Him is to die. Yet He has made the creation to reflect His glory, and He has made human beings in His own image, with a unique desire to know Him and a capacity for relationship with Him. Since our God is a consuming fire whom we in our sin cannot safely approach, He has approached us by entering into our humanity in Jesus Christ.