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“When I see Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have established; What is man that You remember him.  And the son of man that You care for him?  Yet You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You crown him with glory and majesty!”  Psalm 8:3-5

The title of this devotional is a play on words from Psalm 8 – it’s a dichotomy in David’s mind that he shares openly with the Lord in his written prayers.  And it’s so beautiful.

See, all we have to do is open our eyes to Creation to witness God’s glory. The jaws of believers and unbelievers alike drop in awe as the setting sun paints the sky vibrant pinks.  Or, when walking by a jasmine bush or magnolia tree, we’re stopped in our tracks at the magnificent scent suddenly transforming the air around us.  Then there are the stars that fill the universe, and the sun and the moon, which are perfectly situated to bring life to the Earth – the tiniest shift would bring swift devastation to everything.  Even the bees testify in their miraculous hive structure given to them by the Architect of Everything.

And, amid all this amazement and glory, there we stand.  All of humanity. In all our frailty and smallness in comparison to God’s vast Creation. As David writes, “What is man that You (God) remember him and care for him?”

It’s certainly easy to think that way..but, dear friend, it is not so. David quickly follows up his initial observation:  God made man with great glory and significance.  We are created in His very image (Genesis 1:27; Ephesians 4:24) and He put us over all of the rest of Creation (Genesis 1:26). We are fearfully and wonderfully made, knit together in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-16).  You and I live because we have the very breath of God in our lungs (Genesis 2:7)!  And unlike every other created thing, God gave us a conscience, eternity written in our hearts. He also gave us the ability to choose.  We choose good or evil, love or hate, self or God.

Most vital to the proof of our significance to God is this:  God showed His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ – the second Person of God Himself, made Man – died for us, that we may be reconciled with God for eternity.  Adam and Eve initially had a perfect union with God.  In their freedom to choose obedient love, they chose pride instead, severing that idyllic relationship. And so, we, too, are separated.  But God, to restore that union, gave His Son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sins and claim victory over death on our behalf.  Even the angels are in awe as they witness salvation – partying it up with every proclamation of surrender (Luke 15:10).

Friend, that is how significant you are to God.  Yes, all of Creation boasts about God, putting His glory on display for everyone to see.  But He is ultimately glorified when you and I acknowledge His amazing love for us, claiming Him as Savior and Lord…and choosing to surrender to His grace and mercy.

“Lord humanity is not equal with the dolphins, owls and birds –we have been created in Your image, to walk and talk with You. I pray for those who need to recognize their significance in You.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life