Vacations are times to think about what’s most important in life!
We just returned from a few days away. While the time “on vacation,” was refreshing, especially with a few grandchildren, it was also a reminder.
The present contexts of our nation does push one to seek out more time “away” from it all. Yet, even while we sought out some time away from it all, I was deeply reminded of more important issues to contemplate. Below, I am citing two others who helped me “think!”
“Loyalty to kingdom values rejects all subservience to temporal things, whether that subservience be the type which accumulates endlessly, or the type stamped by a frenetic, faithless, and worried scurry for essentials” (Excerpt From Jesus's Sermon on the Mount and His Confrontation with the World,
D.A. Carson. This material may be protected by copyright.)
Wondrous Things
“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” (Psalm 119:18)
Wondrous indeed is the marvelous universe God has created. “Hearken unto this,” we are challenged, “stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God” (Job 37:14). And as we “consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained” (Psalm 8:3), we can only “stand still” in awe at God’s infinite power.
We are even more amazed as we study the intricate complexity of living creatures—especially human beings. “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works” (Psalm 139:14). God’s omniscience is more wondrous than even His omnipotence.
Then there is His miraculous ordering of history for the accomplishment of His purposes. “We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done” (Psalm 78:4).
But even greater than the wondrous world He created or His wondrous works in history are the wonders of God’s written Word, for “thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name” (Psalm 138:2).
Note the testimony of the familiar 19th Psalm: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” But then: “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul” (Psalm 19:1, 7). As far as God’s works in history are concerned, God’s Word was completed before history began and will endure after the present world is gone. “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89). “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
There are “wondrous things” without end in “thy law,” and we will continue discovering them forever. (HMM, ICR, June 8,2024)
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