Tuesday, February 27
Scripture: Psalm 139: 13-16
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
Some thoughts:
David has written one of the most powerful passages in all of Scripture regarding a human’s worth and uniqueness in being made in the image of God. In a time when building self-esteem, self-worth, and personal identity are so prevalent, we see in the Scriptures our true selves from God’s perspective. In marked contrast to secular cultural values, David directs our individual identity in a wholly different direction. We see self-worth in the context of “God-worth”. Did you notice we are made of both body and soul? We are made of flesh and spirit. Jesus was human flesh and spirit. Yes, we are made in the image of God with a soul. God’s description is the starting place for all human’s identity. An identity beginning with the self is bankrupt from the start for we are commencing with a deeply flawed product! We can all observe the troubled results of the secular approach to self-identity and the value of human life.
God didn’t make a mistake when he made you. He knew you before the beginning of creation and long before anyone had any idea who you were or what you’d be like (Eph 1:4). People are not all the same and some of us live with greater challenges than others, but we are all wondrous works of God’s loving creative hand. Our personhood and true identity come through God as we are in communion with him. Though we may not see it, there are no mistakes along the way. God’s hand was on us from our conception through our last day on this earth. Do you see here God’s commitment to you as a unique person. (You are not special. If everyone is special, then no one is. Rather, you are unique, there is no one in the entire world like you.) This uniqueness is what keeps life so interesting! Put your trust in the one who knows every day of your life on this earth. Stay close to him. His love for you is great, great enough to die for you.
Music: “O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” Simon Khorolskiy
Prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made, and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent. Create and make us new and contrite hearts, that, lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, we may receive from you, the God of all mercy, perfect forgiveness and peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. —Thomas Cranmer, 1489-1556