Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

When we were growing up, most of us liked cartoons.

Although it may not be sophisticated to admit it, some of us still can't resist looking at some of our favorite characters.

If you like cartoons, you may -- like me -- be puzzled by one thing: why is it that most of the actors in cartoons are drawn with only three fingers and a thumb on each hand?

I finally was given the answer to that question when I had the opportunity to visit with an old cartoonist. He told me individuals were drawn that way because it saves time and the omission is rarely noticed. It's a simple and obvious answer. I should have guessed.

I should have guessed because that's the way people usually work. We usually find the simplest and easiest way to do things.

Thankfully, as I type my script for this devotion, I am glad that God doesn't follow our example. I am blessed with four fingers and a thumb on both my left and right hands. God didn't cut corners when I was made. That's probably true for you, too.

Couldn't God have made it easy on Himself when we were formed? No, He couldn't. God doesn't try to cut corners. He didn't when He made the universe with its myriad number of spinning galaxies. He didn't when He made me and saved me.

When God works, He does a good job. In fact, we might rightly say that "our perfect God did a perfect job." True, our sin has marred that perfection. Yet, in saving us God decided not to cut any corners and chose to sacrifice His Son for our salvation.

Now I know this is not a profound devotion. Even so, I do hope the next time you watch the cartoons and see three fingers and a thumb, you will remember this: God -- unlike us -- never takes shortcuts.


From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"



THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we are, indeed, the works of Your hands. We give thanks You chose not to compromise when You made us and when You saved us. Continue to hold us in Your hands until You cradle us in Your arms. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 27-29    John 11:1-29

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