The Heavens Declare His Glory
I returned yesterday from a visit with my oldest son in the Colorado mountains. We spent a great part of the time hiking in and around various wilderness areas and lakes and mountain passes. At almost every turn it seemed we encountered another incredible view. How could there be so many amazing places that probably very few people ever see (we saw almost no one else during our hike)? A remote mountain lake with large trout sipping mayflies off the surface, an abandoned mine, cascading rivers tumbling across house-sized boulders were seemingly sprinkled across the hillside like table salt. We saw the detritus from avalanches, thousands of trees piled up in valleys, the snow having played a Paul Bunyan size game of pickup sticks. A moose pair poked their heads out from a creekside bank, just enough for us to know to back away slowly (they are probably more dangerous than bears as they are more likely to charge you).
It was one breath taking moment after another. And it was a powerful reminder of God’s majestic, creative hand. All of this tucked away in the middle of the USA, and this only a tiny fraction of the amazing things one can see, all created by God for our joy. I’m often reminded of Psalm 8, a passage I first personally encountered while hiking in college with my youth pastor, Kerry Jones. We stood under a stone arch in the Red River Gorge, the sunlight peeking through, while Kerry read aloud v 3-4: “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” The answer in verse 5 is that he does indeed care for us: “Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.”
Though we are so minuscule in comparison to the vastness of creation, He created us and cares for us. And when we pause to consider this, and to see His handiwork in creation, it should increase our praise and honor for the God of creation.
Last Sunday Colby wrapped up the first chapter of Philippians for us. Our theme for the series is the phrase “Press On,” a theme that kept coming to mind while walking straight up hill at 12,000 feet! This week we’ll start into chapter two and focus on one of the most significant passages in the New Testament related to the person of Christ. In fact, we’re taking our memory verse for October from verses 3-5. Christ modeled true humility for us to follow, and memorizing these verses will be a powerful way to grow in humility and unity this fall.
What step of faith is God calling you to take this fall? Maybe it’s to attend the Pastor’s Class and consider becoming a member of the church? We are called to walk by faith in all that we do. Keep praying for God to press upon you someone to invite to our Fall Faith Festival on October 12th. Keep praying and trust that He will give you the strength and courage to reach out to that person. He has called each and every one of us to be a part of reaching the South End of Louisville for Christ. What an amazing joy-filled privilege that He would even be mindful of us! Keep praying and Press On for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Photo by Saeed Ahmed Abbasi