Theme of the Week: The Discipline of Devotion
Bible Verse: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” Psalm 19:1
Scripture Reading: Psalm 19:1-14; Matthew 17:1-27
At the very heart of adoration is contemplation. Numerous Psalms call us to contemplate God as seen in His creation.
They never suggest that God is in His creation, but that His excellencies can be seen in His created works. Psalm 19 begins with these majestic words: “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” (Psalm 19:1-2). Listen to God speak through His macrocosm, says the Psalmist! In contrast, Psalm 139 celebrates God’s omniscience (Psalm 139:1-6), omnipresence (Psalm 139:7-12), and omnipotence (Psalm 139:13-16) in the microcosm of the human mind and body.
I remember fishing at Cabo San Lucas at the mouth of the Sea of Cortez, with the cloudless, windless day, the perfect sunlight dancing rhythmically on the water in platinum and blue. I recall gliding into an emerald cove surrounded by a cactus desert, donning a snorkel, and slipping over the side into a world of green and turquoise and yellow and pink — another world of slower, gentler rhythm. I also remember the sunset, with its Pacific fire, as we sat on the sand gazing at the summer stars.
I was indeed seeing God through His handiwork. What a God we have!
Contemplation and meditation join hands in contemplating God through His mighty acts as described in Scripture. Take the Transfiguration, for example. Read of it in Matthew 17:1-8 and Mark 9:2-8 and visualize what happened. See it from the disciples’ perspective: Jesus is framed by a thousand summer stars, and His clothing has become a glowing white. Overhead are the Bear and Pleiades, and Jesus is shining like a star Himself! Or see the Transfiguration from Jesus’ perspective: His glory illuminating the faces of His awestruck inner ring of disciples — His very image dancing in their wide eyes. See it. Touch it. Smell it. Taste it. Participate in the story, and fall down with Peter, James, and John in worship.
See it. Touch it. Smell it. Taste it. Participate in the story, and fall down with Peter, James, and John in worship.
There is much marvelous fuel for reverent meditation from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22.
Taken from Disciplines of a Godly Man by Kent Hughes, Copyright © 2001. Used by permission of Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org
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