God’s Glory and Goodness
One of the many blessings of serving the Lord in Liberia is the beauty and goodness of the Lord all around us. The challenges of Liberia often receive the most attention. One major challenge is the weather, it gets hot and humid… a big challenge with no AC! A second challenge are the myriad critters and creatures that can irritate or even kill you with their bite. This challenge runs the gamut from mere annoyance to major prayer requests. The last challenge is perhaps the most difficult of all because of the pervasive corruption on all levels and the lingering sorrow from wickedness, neglect, and disease that affects great and small.
And yet… I am often overwhelmed by the goodness and glory of God in all these same areas of life. These areas reflect His design, purpose, wisdom, and majesty. Truly, the heavens declare the glory of God! The area of the heavens provides the Master Painter opportunity to regularly pull out His paintbrush, dip it into His palette of infinite colors, and apply His stroke across the sky’s canvass as only He can do. The result of God’s painting are spectacular sunrises and sunsets. The area of the weather, seen in billowing clouds floating across the sky on a lazy day, or the purple and indigo thunderheads of a gathering storm, provide another example of not only His beauty and majesty, but His power. Yet it’s not only the heavens that declare His glory, it’s all of creation.
God’s Design and Purpose
God’s glory is on display in the smallest creature, in an intricate rock formation, and in the colorful or delicate flower. His design and purpose can be clearly seen by those who take the time to stop and smell the proverbial roses. When we do stop, and really ponder the wonder of creation, God amazes us not only by His design and by His purpose, but with breathtaking beauty.
There is one more aspect of the creation that reflects God’s glory… people. The longer we are here, the more we focus on those around us as imagers of God’s glory. The doctrine of being created in God’s image is foundational to the biblical worldview, and it has a profound affect on our daily lives. Whether it’s asking ourselves the question: “How can we actively image the glory of God in this moment?”… or how we view others, or how we relate to those around us… this truth provides a lens that helps us to remain rooted in grace, and to reach out to others with the love of Christ.
God’s Song of Praise
The song “This Is My Father’s World” reflects this fact that all of creation sings of His wonder and might.
This is my Father’s world, And to my list’ning ears All nature sings, and round me rings The music of the spheres. This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas— His hand the wonders wrought. This is my Father’s world: The birds their carols raise, The morning light, the lily white, Declare their Maker’s praise. This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair; In the rustling grass I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere. This is my Father’s world: Oh, let me ne’er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. This is my Father’s world, The battle is not done: Jesus who died shall be satisfied, And earth and Heav’n be one.
Maltbie D. Babcock
All Nature Sings…
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas— His hand the wonders wrought.
All Declare Their Maker’s Praise…
This is my Father’s world: The birds their carols raise, The morning light, the lily white, Declare their Maker’s praise.
All Earth and Heaven Will Be One…
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. This is my Father’s world, The battle is not done: Jesus who died shall be satisfied…
