All For His Glory

Genesis 1:1

A few years ago I visited a planetarium and remember coming away with a renewed wonder of God’s creation. I saw many pictures taken from large telescopes and even many taken from space. The stars are fascinating! I’ve often looked into the night sky and wondered about God’s promise to Abraham: “‘Look up at the heavens and count the stars – if indeed you can count them.’ Then He said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be'” (Genesis 15:5). When Abraham looked into that dark clear sky, you can be sure he saw a LOT of stars.

But as incredible as our night sky appears, the facts of our universe quickly become staggering. During the day we see the sun – which is really just the closest of all the stars. Our sun, though it appears large, is a relatively small star located 93 million miles from Earth. This distance is about the same as traveling around the world 4,000 times. And though this distance is hard to comprehend, the next nearest star is 270,000 time farther away. But that’s only two of the 200 billion stars in our Milky Way galaxy – a galaxy which takes light 100,000 years to travel from one end to the other!!

But as incredible as our galaxy appears, the Milky Way is but one of billions of other galaxies within the Universe. There are estimated to be as many galaxies in the Universe as there are stars in the Milky Way.

But as incredible as our Universe appears…

Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Just like that, it was done…and it was good. The Creator spoke and the Universe appeared. He then selected one of the billions of galaxies, one of the billions of stars within the galaxy, and one of the many planets around this star to create a people to call His own. God’s plan from before the foundations of the world was to create a family who is adopted “as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will – to the praise of His glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:5-6).

We who believe that Jesus Christ died for the forgiveness of our sin have become a testimony of praise to God’s glory and grace. In the same way, the immensity of the stars give testimony; “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands” (Psalm 19:1). I can barely understand the distance to our sun, let alone the size of our galaxy or the size of the Universe; and I’ll spend a lifetime trying to comprehend the “size” of our God; “The heavens proclaim His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory” (Psalm 97:6).

If we would look up on a clear night we might see that our perceived status, as well as our varied problems, are all quite small. And we might begin to understand our God to be much, much bigger than we thought. We might even just shake our head, as we try to understand His love, and realize this is all for His glory.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

What do you have in your hand?

Rom. 8:28

God is a covenant keeping God, who always, by His mercy, even in our moments of weakness, remembers us for good in all circumstances.  I don’t know how difficult your situation is but I have a word for you: with God all things and everything are possible for you today (Luke.1:37). Wait for Him in praise, holiness, obedience and great expectation because you will rise again, and all things will work together for your good (Rom.8:28).

No situation is permanent and I see yours changing for good. Your miracle is closer to you than you think. You cannot move forward in life or accomplish much when you are stuck with the what ifs, how can, when or where of your situations. Moses, overcome by self-limitation and low-self esteem, struggled to accept his divine assignment as God’s instrument of deliverance for the Israelites who were held down in captivity in Egypt. The Lord opened Moses’ eyes to see the rod of deliverance which became the rod of God as the story progressed. David began as an insignificant shepherd boy in Israel, an afterthought of his family, but God raised him from the valley to the place of prominence with an ordinary sling shot. God will always add His powerful extra to your ordinary to make you an extraordinary person. God is in the fantastic business of divine uplifment, addition and multiplication in the lives of His children (Gen.1:28).

God showed Samson the jaw bone of an ass with which he destroyed his enemies. The victory was in the jawbone. The prosperity of the widow and her sons was in the pot of oil in her house (2Kings.4:1-4). The tree that would cure the bitter water of Marah was in the wilderness, but the Israelites didn’t see it until God showed it to them. 

The seed for your miracle, breakthrough and go-through is always in your hand or just within your reach. Ask the Lord to open your eyes to see it. The Lord will show you your pot of oil, your rod of deliverance and your jaw bone of victory if you will only ask Him (Mat.7:7).  You will receive the revelation for your elevation today in Jesus name!

Don’t worry about your lack of qualification, talent or natural abilities, God can make you and will! Gen.12:2. Abraham was an idol worshipper, but God made him the father of many nations! David was a shepherd boy, but God made him the consolidated king of Israel. Joseph was a prisoner but God made him a Prime Minister in Egypt. Apostle Paul, before his conversion, was a serial killer by association, persecuting the church, but God made him the author of more than half of the books of the New Testament. Is anything too hard for the Lord? He will make you!

No more excuses or alibi for failure. Get up, go and excel! You are not empty-handed or God-forsaken. You are His treasure in earthen vessel (2Corinthians.4:7). God will put His super on that thing that seems so natural (if you’ll let Him have it) to give you a supernatural manifestation if you’ll let Him have it. Have a Christ-centered life!

bryan wood