Weekly Devotionals – 18 October 2021

Early last week, a Staff Member at Lighthouse posted a photo of a beautiful sky filled with clouds. She exhorted everyone to focus on God’s greatness in light of the COVID-19 crisis. This put into motion a beautiful array of similar photos taken by others throughout the day. A thoughtful yet simple exercise that provided needed medicine amid troublous times. One photo, in particular, captured my attention.

The picture above beautifully encapsulates the verses referred to from Psalm 8. On the one hand, you have the sky majestically canvassed with God’s creative artwork. Secondly, you may notice a building with the number 31 pasted on it. This is where I live! Who am I Lord, that you would think upon someone like myself? God knows where I live, He knows my name and everything else about me. The same is true for each and every one of us. Through the posting of a picture, I now better appreciate the reality of the greatness of God and His ability to connect with a mere mortal like myself. There are a few encouraging thoughts that I feel to share in this devotional:

1. God knows You

The God who created the universe and all its splendour also created you. The Bible speaks of you and me as being “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). The God who created the heavens and the earth also knows the very number of hairs upon our head (Luke 12:7). Think about that for a moment! Do you fully appreciate the interest that God has in your life? Let this truth sink in and may it bring us to a greater realm of loving and delighting in God

Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

2. God has a Plan and Purpose for your Life

The God who created the Universe created each and every one of us uniquely with a specific plan and purpose. Do you have a sense and understanding of what it is? Today’s culture seeks to strip and rob people of true identity. Our God, who is meticulous in His creation is even more so with His greatest creation “You”. The prophet Jeremiah understood this:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

Now, more than ever, it is vital for each of us to come into that sense of our true identity in Christ. He is a loving Heavenly Father who wants to be known, not just as a Creator but as a Father and a Friend, and as a Saviour, through Christ. God is honoured and glorified as we pursue Him with a whole heart.

3. Worship God and Bring Glory to His Name

Our ability to worship God in Spirit and Truth is dependent upon knowing our identity (who we are) in Him (John 4:24). This kind of worship can take on many forms. Think about this for a moment! This past week someone took time to take a picture of a sky and post it to a chat group. A seed was sown that put into motion a series of other pictures and contributions, in addition to serving as a catalyst for this devotional. The sowing of that seed was an act of worship.

Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days. (Ecclesiastes 11:1)

One of the keys to King David’s success was his ability to get caught up in the glorious acts of God’s creation while wondering in amazement as to how such a mighty God could take interest in his mortal life (Psalm 8:4). What about you? Can you see God as one who takes a personal interest in your life, who knows your name and everything about you? Do you have a similar sense of being ordained with a call and purpose in life? God knows you and He is calling you to worship Him and make Him known, seeing that you are one of his most precious creations

O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:9)