City Life Starter

Written by PJ Thomas

The Word

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

Psalm 19:1

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Luke 19:40

Reflection

These two versus highlight the broad spectrum of how God’s creations act according to the purpose of glorifying God. In Psalm 19, David, perhaps looking out over a clear day, marveled at the vastness and perfection of the sky. Its presence filled him with a sense of glory about the one who created it. In Luke 19, Jesus had just finished performing miracles, and His followers were praising God for His works through Jesus. However, when the Pharisees asked him to silence and rebuke his followers for praise, Jesus highlights the inevitability of God’s glory being known.

Application

When I look at the news, it is tempting to see people accomplishing large feats, and feel that my contribution pales in comparison. Then, like David, I look out. I see that each grain of sand contributes to our earth. Each microbe contributes to a livable ecosystem. When I observe all of it in its vastness, that the whole of earth is perfectly calibrated to allow our existence, it fills me with wonder and awe. Then I look at the people I come into contact with during my day. Each person has been created with gifts, joys, and tragedies that shape and make them unique. Each person is placed perfectly where they are and given an opportunity to show God’s glory in a particular setting or circumstance. When I think deeply about how the same God of the universe that uniquely created the world and the people I see, I can’t help but marvel at God.

The same God that created the sky and the stones created you and me as well. Whether we are the metaphorical sky or the stones (and everything in between), we have an opportunity to participate in this sense of awe and wonder. Like David, we only need lift our eyes.

Prayer

Father, thank you for your tender mercy and your word. I pray that you give me ears ear and eyes to see what my purpose is, and how I should walk in it. Help me to turn from pride that desires to define myself, and to turn to Your will towards my life. In Jesus’s name, amen!