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O Lord, Our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth. You have set your glory above the heavens. (Psalm 8:1 NIV)

The beauty of Africa is astounding. The vastness of the Sahara is indescribable. The length and importance of the Nile is inestimable. The variety of plant and animal life is hard to imagine. The scenic views of the Savannah, the forest land, and the marshes provides for breathtaking views and heart-stopping beauty. All of these are reminders of God's creativity and His desire for diversity and His passion for beauty. For those of us who have seen this amazing continent and seen God's handiwork elsewhere, we are left in wonder and amazement at our Father's grace to make such a place and prepare it for us as the place to know Him and His love for us.

O Lord, Our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth. You have set your glory above the heavens. (Psalm 8:1)

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. (Psalm 8:3-5)

At the same time, Africa's greatest treasures are not the natural wonders, the physical beauty of the landscape, or the varied terrain. Africa's greatest resource is her people. The heart of this people, the smile, the warmth, and the welcome are wonders to experience. Yet often, much of this greatest resource of Africa wakes up in crisis — children trapped in disease (malaria, diarrhea diseases from bad water, coughs and weakness from poor hygiene, and HIV/AIDS), living in slums or despair or poverty, growing up without knowing their high purpose and without hope of God's dream for them.

Many on this continent are working hard, in the name of Jesus, to change these things. I have spent the last week seeing their work, rejoicing in their successes, and grieving at the enormity of their task. I am also convinced we can, and must, do something to help. Our efforts can be effective and focused. I can make a difference — you can make a difference — in the life of one child that can change his or her future, and just maybe the future of Africa. It is part of our high exalted privilege as the crown of God's creation to do this, to help some live up to their exalted privilege as God's child. It is the natural outflowing of our praise to the majestic God to help join with Africans of faith as they try to reawaken their people to Gods high and holy purpose in them.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. (Psalm 8:3-5)

Our praise of God, our joyous response of worship to His love, is a symphony of two movements. The first is the praise of His majesty in the beauty and wonder of Creation. Loving God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength as Jesus described it, is our natural response to God's created beauty.

The second movement of this symphony of praise — so often skipped, missed, or discarded — is to work in harmony with God's Spirit on the coming of His Kingdom into the lives of men and women now. Yes, I do believe Heaven awaits us in the future, but if we don't work to see the character and compassion of God's Kingdom come alive now, how can we say we long for this new bright future of His grace in heaven? Jesus called this loving our neighbor as ourselves. Both lines of Psalm 8 must be true and must be parts of our life of worship. And they can be!

Our praise of God is a symphony of two movements.

Just as our Savior and Lord did, let's work to bring that Kingdom to life, now. After all, it's part of our prayer: “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” And we will, because God is majestic and He has called us to reflect that same majesty.

For more on our African trip, check the links below.

To sponsor a child, please see the Compassion website:
http://www.compassion.com/sponsor

To join this song of praise, look around and lift someone's eyes to the heavens and help them know the love of God and His plan to make them part of His glory.

And for those who have already committed to help sponsor a child while I've been gone, I want to say from the bottom of my heart, "THANK YOU!"

 

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© 2008 Phil Ware. All rights reserved.

Title: "Majestic"
Author: Phil Ware
Publication Date: February 18, 2008

House by Frank Peretti & Ted Dekker Best-selling authors Peretti and Dekker join forces for an adrenaline-laced thriller!

Phil Ware is minister of the Word at Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. For the past 10+ years, he has also been co-editor of HEARTLIGHT Magazine. For more details, click here.

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