How Majestic!

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

LORD, our Lord,

     how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory

     in the heavens...

When I consider the heavens,

     the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

     which you have set in place,

what are human beings that you are mindful of them,

     mortals that you care for them?

                                                       - Psalm 8:1, 3-4

Throughout these devotions, you will see a lot of sunrises, sunsets, and pictures of the moon.

Get used to it.

The truth is, I can scarcely lift my eyes to the skies without the words of Psalm 8 immediately coming to mind: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! When I consider the heavens... the moon and the stars..., what are human beings, that you are mindful of [us]?”

The thought here is twofold. First, to behold creation is to stand in complete awe of the Creator. I challenge you when you go outside, to look up; if you have a pulse, you will be amazed. [WARNING: Do NOT look straight into the sun, as it may cause blindness] 

Chances are, you don't have to go far in order to be impressed by the majesty of God's world. Indeed, I took this picture from my front yard one evening last summer. Truly, it is amazing to consider the power and wisdom and infinite creativity of the One who paints the sky uniquely and beautifully, EVERY SINGLE DAY!

And yet, as amazing as it is to reflect on the majesty of creation, that isn't even the point that the psalmist is trying to make. So here's the second thought: That the One who created the heavens, the sun and moon and stars, reserves the highest esteem for us—for you, and me, and for all humankind. In light of the majesty of the skies, who are we, that God should be mindful of us and care for us? And yet, that is the truth we proclaim: that every human being who ever did or ever will grace this planet is infinitely more precious to God than even the most glorious star in the sky.

Think on that for a while.

Let it sink in, how precious you are to God.

And, let it sink in, how precious is every other human being. 

If others are precious to God, don't you think they should be precious to us, as well?

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!