All creation bows before Him

Sometimes the devotional writer makes statements that bypass what the Bible says. Today, he writes that worship “distinguishes man from all other forms of life on earth.” The psalmist and Isaiah would not say that. Besides telling us that “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1), other verses say:

“Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.” (Psalm 96:11–13, also see Psalm 98:8)

“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:12, also Isaiah 44:23)

We live in a condo complex that has tall aspens, those trees whose leaves seem to dance in the wind. When I watch them, Isaiah’s words come to mind and as the trees worship God with uplifted ‘hands’ I often do the same.

That said, the Scripture for today gives the reason for worship, not explicitly but it is in this passage:

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.’ Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, ‘Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.’” (Genesis 17:1–8)

Abram was old and not able to do what he could do as a young man. Perhaps he was not as hung up on accomplishments as I have been, but he had to reach this place of helplessness before God declared again this covenant and the promise of offspring and fruitfulness. The reason for worship in this passage and in the entire Bible is that God does it. In our own strength, humanity can do nothing. The Bible says we do not seek God (Romans 3:10ff) or worship Him. We go our own way (Isaiah 53:6) and because of that, God stepped into our world to redeem us from our sin. He took the death we deserve and gave us the life we could never achieve without Him.

Because of that, I can worship Him . . . but the trees had it figured out long before I did!

^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, today is a new day. I slept almost all of yesterday, but in sleep You blessed me with new understanding and with further healing. You are able to use all that happens for good for those who love You, and You even give us that ability to love.

“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:10–12)

It isn’t about me

In Rick Warren’s well known book, “The Purpose Driven Life,” he begins with this: “It is not about me.” This thesis statement puts purpose for living right in the hands of God.

Moses had trouble with that. When he encountered God at the burning bush, God gave him a large assignment. “Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

Instead of keeping his thoughts on God, Moses said, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:10–11) He hadn’t read Warren’s book.

The response of Moses points to another spiritual danger, the danger of supposing that living for Christ depends totally on me. It seems rather obvious that this is ridiculous, but every now and then the independence of sin sneaks in and I find myself thinking ‘I can do this’ or ‘I can’t do this’ as if the Lord has left me to my own devices.

On one hand, the idea does appeal to my pride. I’d like to be able to do it, for then I could pat myself on the back, look down on the less capable, and think myself as being something like a teacher’s pet in God’s classroom. Yet He has something to say about this attitude. “There is none righteous, no not one . . .” (Romans 3:10) and “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23–24)

Righteousness is the work of God, not mine. I could not save myself, so I have no right or reason to claim that I can stand before God and say, “I can do this” as if I don’t need Him any longer.

On the other hand, I err just as much by picking up Moses’ idea and telling God, “I cannot do what you ask.” The Bible says, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire . . . .” (2 Peter 1:3–5)

His power has given me all that I need to live a godly life for Him. I cannot balk at any command, or claim I am unable, even though in myself I am unable. However, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Warren is right. Living the life of purpose that God gives isn’t about me. It is about Jesus Christ and as soon as I start thinking otherwise, I am in spiritual danger.