Devotional
Have you listened to the music?
“The greatest wonder is not the music itself but the Musician, not the creation but the Creator. He is beautiful.” –—Steve DeWitt
You’re familiar with the old saying, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” We all view and interpret art differently, but in any of its forms, art is always an expression of the artist. It’s intended to speak to us.
Consider God’s masterpiece. A quick read of the first chapter of Genesis reveals that the phrase “God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25) punctuates the creation account. At every step in the process, God determined each element was good and made a meaningful contribution to the whole. The pieces fit nicely together. There was interdependence among them. His ideal was coming to pass.
At the end of the creation account, we read: “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). Notice the adverb—it was very good. It thrilled God to see all the systems and order He created revealed Him to creation. It thrilled God to see His image and likeness—a resemblance—in us.
The Psalmist declares creation is God’s first book to mankind, a chance to see God’s glory in clarity. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the earth” (Psalm 19:1-4).
God’s handiwork—all we see around us, and even the very pulse within our wrists—declares Him. It pours forth a testimony which cannot be missed, a song that is audible to everyone, everywhere.
Often, we get so busy with the schedules and minutiae of life that we miss the concert which is God’s masterpiece all around us. Plan a short break in the routine this week. Take a walk. Soak in some sunlight. Observe life all around you. Allow your senses to drink deeply of this spring. Listen to God’s masterpiece as it sings, “Hallelujah!”
My prayer this week— – Father, help me slow down and take notice of the beauty of your creation all around me. Will you help me see your hand in life’s seasons, recognize your presence in life’s stories, and sense your wisdom and power in life’s systems and order? Lord, I not only want to hear the hallelujahs—I want to join the chorus!