Daily Devotion | Day 248
“When I consider Your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained; what is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty!” (Psalm 8:3-4, NASB).
Why do you use a mirror? When you look in a mirror, what do you see? Beyond your reflection, do you see anything else? When you look into the mirror, you are seeing someone created in the image and likeness of Almighty God (Genesis 1:26-27). The marvelous works of God are in the details. Next time you look in a mirror, pause for a few seconds and look at yourself. Forget the makeup, hairstyle, dress and teeth for a moment.
In those few seconds, become aware that you are looking at a precious soul, created with love, beauty and majesty in mind – sent into the world to display the marvels of God. Look carefully, and say a prayer of thanks to God who made you. Acknowledge that you are a wonder. You are a wonderful creature from a Wonderful Creator. You are a wonder, because God made you so. Acknowledge it. And act like it.
In today’s opening passage, David is filled with awe. Feeling helpless, he turns to God and wonders: When I look at Your heavens, the moon and the stars, their beauty and majesty, what is man that you are mindful of him? Yet you have made him a little lower than God (Here, the Hebrew uses the word Elohim which often means God(s). In Psalm 8:4, however, most English translations refrain from translating Elohim as God and instead use “angels,” perhaps because of Hebrews 2:5-8. In any case, in this instance, the NASB’s rendition is preferred by the author of this Devotional).
David’s main concern is why God is mindful of man. On the surface, our value pales in comparison with the splendor of the moon and the stars. Yet, God has made us a little less than Elohim. Furthermore, He has crowned us with honor and glory. David is right to be amazed. He can’t wrap his mind around the fact that God would bestow on us such stupendous dignity. David, in the end, realized that man is a wonder. In Psalm 139:14, he acknowledged it: “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.”
You too, dear child of God, acknowledge that you are God’s wonderful work. Don’t get so busy with life’s preoccupations that your miss the wonder that you are. Augustine of Hippo once said, “Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering” (emphasis added).
It is time to glorify God by acknowledging that He made you a wonder. Ponder and wonder, and give thanks.
Blessing: May the Lord open your eyes to see that He has crowned you with honor and glory. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
For further study: Genesis 1:26-28, Ephesians 2:1-10, and Hebrews 2:1-18
Citation: (“Saint Augustine Quotes.” BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2018. 4 September 2018. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/saint_augustine_107689).
Higher-Self Realities 