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February 18, 2008
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Majestic, by Phil Ware
O Lord, Our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth. You
have set your glory above the heavens. (Psalm 8:1 NIV)
The beauty of Africa is astounding. The vastness of the Sahara is
indescribable. The length and importance of the Nile is inestimable.
The variety of plant and animal life is hard to imagine. The scenic
views of the Savannah, the forest land, and the marshes provides for
breathtaking views and heart-stopping beauty. All of these are
reminders of God's creativity and His desire for diversity and His
passion for beauty. For those of us who have seen this amazing
continent and seen God's handiwork elsewhere, we are left in wonder and
amazement at our Father's grace to make such a place and prepare it for
us as the place to know Him and His love for us.
O Lord, Our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth. You
have set your glory above the heavens. (Psalm 8:1)
When I consider 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, the son of man that you care for him? You made
him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with
glory and honor. (Psalm 8:3-5)
At the same time, Africa's greatest treasures are not the natural
wonders, the physical beauty of the landscape, or the varied terrain.
Africa's greatest resource is her people. The heart of this people, the
smile, the warmth, and the welcome are wonders to experience. Yet
often, much of this greatest resource of Africa wakes up in crisis —
children trapped in disease (malaria, diarrhea diseases from bad water,
coughs and weakness from poor hygiene, and HIV/AIDS), living in slums
or despair or poverty, growing up without knowing their high purpose
and without hope of God's dream for them.
Many on this continent are working hard, in the name of Jesus, to
change these things. I have spent the last week seeing their work,
rejoicing in their successes, and grieving at the enormity of their
task. I am also convinced we can, and must, do something to help. Our
efforts can be effective and focused. I can make a difference — you can
make a difference — in the life of one child that can change his or her
future, and just maybe the future of Africa. It is part of our high
exalted privilege as the crown of God's creation to do this, to help
some live up to their exalted privilege as God's child. It is the
natural outflowing of our praise to the majestic God to help join with
Africans of faith as they try to reawaken their people to Gods high and
holy purpose in them.
When I consider 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, the son of man that you care for him? You made
him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with
glory and honor. (Psalm 8:3-5)
Our praise of God, our joyous response of worship to His love, is a
symphony of two movements. The first is the praise of His majesty in
the beauty and wonder of Creation. Loving God with our heart, soul,
mind, and strength as Jesus described it, is our natural response to
God's created beauty.
The second movement of this symphony of praise — so often skipped,
missed, or discarded — is to work in harmony with God's Spirit on the
coming of His Kingdom into the lives of men and women now. Yes,
I do believe Heaven awaits us in the future, but if we don't work to
see the character and compassion of God's Kingdom come alive now, how
can we say we long for this new bright future of His grace in heaven?
Jesus called this loving our neighbor as ourselves. Both lines of Psalm
8 must be true and must be parts of our life of worship. And they can
be!
Our praise of God is a symphony of two movements.
Just as our Savior and Lord did, let's work to bring that Kingdom to
life, now. After all, it's part of our prayer: "Your Kingdom come, Your
will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." And we will, because God is
majestic and He has called us to reflect that same majesty.
For more on our African trip, check the links below.
To sponsor a child, please see the Compassion website:
http://www.compassion.com/sponsor
To join this song of praise, look around and lift someone's eyes to the
heavens and help them know the love of God and His plan to make them
part of His glory.
And for those who have already committed to help sponsor a child while
I've been gone, I want to say from the bottom of my heart, "THANK YOU!"
---------
(c) 2008 Phil Ware <phil@heartlight.org>. All rights reserved.
RELATED LINKS:
* Down the Dusty, Bumpy Road
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200802/20080214_bumpyroad.html
* Blogger's Trip with Compassion
http://blogs.heartlight.org/phil/?page_id=193
* A Taste of Heaven
http://blogs.heartlight.org/phil/?p=238
* Southern Hills Church of Christ
http://www.southernhillschurch.org
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200802/20080218_majestic.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
VELVET ELVIS: REPAINTING THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, by Rob Bell
In this provocative, hopeful book, Bell asks what the church might look
like if today's believers fully embraced "the way" of love, peace,
sharing possessions, compassion, risk, forgiveness, and harmony.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?254
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
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