Scripture

Our verse for today cmes from Psalm 147:4, ” He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. “

Background

Last night was a particularly clear night in the sky, and my friend showed me an app on his phone whereby holding the phone up towards the heavens, the app will diagram and label what stars or group of stars you are looking at. So, very quickly, even while riding in my car, he was able to point out a few constellations, as well as a planet or two. It was a fascinating and powerful display of the beautiful order and design of God even with objects that are millions of miles away. The estimates of scientists vary, but there is generally thought to be at least 100 billion stars in our galaxy, with our galaxy being only one of possibly 100 billion galaxies or more. Doing the simple calculation, the number of stars could be at least a one with 22 zeros after it. That’s a big number, even for the US government. I go to a church with about 150 others, and have been for several years. But I couldn’t begin to tell you the names of each person. Perhaps our pastor could, or someone else who works in the office. But what about the people in someone’s neighborhood? Is there anyone alive who knows the names of everyone who lives around them? You see where I’m going with this. We might know the players on our favorite team, or everyone who works in our office. You may actually be the one who knows everyone at your church. But how many people do you know who are several miles from you? Several hundred? Thousands?

Application

For God, there is no such thing as distance. He is everywhere at all times. If He wasn’t, how could a hundred billion galaxies exist and be subject to the uniform laws of science, the very laws that scientists use to estimate the size and number of these stars which they will never actually see? Our God is enormous, and if you spend time in His Word and prayer today, you are in His very presence. And He will give you all the time and attention you desire. There’s not a better offer out there, no matter what galaxy you go to.

Charge

As we seek Him today, let God’s bigness draw you closer to Him, even as you meet Him one on one.