Psalm 111:2-4 - Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is His work, and His righteousness endures forever. He has caused His wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful.
The works of the Lord are "studied by all who delight in them." Experts in many fields of study spend countless hours investigating the wondrous works of our Creator. Astronomers and biologists and scientists in every field study the wonders of creation. Doctors and nurses and all who are involved in medical care and research learn about the human body, bodies that are so "fearfully and wonderfully made" in the image of God (Psalm 139:14b). These studies provide useful knowledge about the world God made.
It is not only the experts who marvel at the splendor and majesty of God's works. Most people enjoy the gifts of the world God has given to us. Even unbelievers can appreciate the wonders of creation, for God "makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:45b). Yet unbelievers do not know, or refuse to acknowledge, the God who created all things, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Although they may marvel at His works, they have "exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator" (Romans 1:25).
By God's grace, we recognize the majesty of creation and worship its Creator. We do so in the Name of Jesus Christ, through whom and for whom "all things were created" (Colossians 1:16b). We especially marvel at God's enduring righteousness, the righteousness of Jesus in which we were clothed in Baptism. We give thanks above all for the gift of His Son and for Jesus' saving work. Creation itself reminds us of all that our Savior has done for us. Out of the many wonders of the night skies, we give thanks for the bright star that announced Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. Out of the forests that cover so much of the earth, we praise God for that one rough-hewn, man-made tree on which our Savior died. Out of all the majestic, towering cliffs of stone, we marvel at that one heavy, hand-carved stone that fell away from the entrance of a dark tomb to reveal that Jesus had risen from the dead!
We marvel at the world God made and sustains to this day. We worship Him as our Creator and Savior because God "has caused his wondrous works to be remembered." In the Spirit-inspired words of Holy Scripture, the mighty works of God are revealed before our eyes and ears and hearts. From creation and His promises to the gift of His Son, the story of God's love unfolds for us in the written witness of these sacred pages. We know, too, of greater, unimaginable wonders yet to come, of our resurrection to life on the Last Day, of a new heavens and earth, and of life forever in the presence of our God and Savior. We will proclaim then as we do now: "Great are the works of the Lord!"
THE PRAYER: Lord God, I marvel at the works of Your hands and give thanks for the redeeming work of my Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you ever looked at something in nature and thought, "What a wonderful thing God has done here"? What was it you were looking at?
2. Is it important to spend time study God's creation and the way it works?
3. What can you do to learn more about the world (and universe) in your spare time?
Today's Bible Readings: Job 41-42 Matthew 16
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