Devotions from Matt Redman – 10,000 ReasonsSample

Magnificent

“You show Your majesty in every star that shines, and every time we breathe.”

We are living in an amazingly privileged age. Our telescopes see further than ever before- and we are quite literally ‘star-struck’ by all we find going on out there in the cosmos. The scope of all we discover is inspiring and impressive enough in itself. But then there is the beauty of it all too- a double wonder, if you like. The same is true when we look through our microscopes. We zoom in, for example, on the eye of a common housefly and see the most intricate and amazing details. These tiny designs are so practical, and yet at the time so creative and elegant. Next we look at our own bodies- the efficient yet enigmatic pump we call the heart, our literally breathtaking lungs- and our amazing brains, which manage more computations per second than the best human- designed supercomputers. Everywhere we look, there is a new wonder to see. As the lyric above reminds us, the majesty of God is there for us to marvel at in every breathe we breathe, and every star that shines above. God displays His magnificence in distant galaxies, and right here and now, closer than our skin.

All of this is a sign, of course, of holiness of God. When we tell of Him as ‘holy’ we are saying there is no other like Him- none that even comes close. He is completely unfathomable, and totally off the charts or our reason. As we look upon creation, we soon start to recognize the ‘set-apartness’ of the Creator. I have met many designers, composers, scientists and inventors. They have many great ideas, and much skill to bring to the table. But I have never met one who comes close to designing and bringing into being anything like the creations of our God. His designs are inutterably immense, and His creations so unfathomably complex and beautiful. And on top of all that, He is the only One who can breathe life into the things He has made. As we look through our microscopes and telescopes we see His many, many wonders. Every single one is a signpost to His greater glory. His creation shouts aloud that He is the One and Only, the magnificent Maker and King of the universe who has no equal or rival. The book of Job in the Bible makes this crystal clear. The closing chapters take us through so many elements of the created order, as God uses His mind-blowing creation to remind us of His magnificence:

“Were you there when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me if you understand who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone, while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7)

As we gaze upon the wonders of creations, we look up towards the heights of a God who is merciful in His ways and magnificent in His deeds. The life of worship always points us upwards.