amazing things

Today we read about something amazing in the One Year Bible, from Matthew 21:23-46. Jesus is telling the story of how the cornerstone has been rejected by mankind, but it has become the main building stone of the entire church. Jesus says, "This is the Lord's doing, and it is wonderful to see."

We can ponder that sentence for some time. When we look at creation, we see the meticulous detail that God created all around us. We see the beauty that He crafted into every seahorse, the tiniest grain of sand, or a gigantic mountain. All around us, we see beauty that makes us say, "This is the Lord's doing, and it is wonderful to see." And it's true!

But, then we think about us humans. Us stupid, selfish, mean-spirited humans, who can't seem to get along with one another long enough to appreciate the beauty around us. And it can get us down, thinking about how mankind is messing everything up.

However, that's when we go back to the verse again. When Jesus talked about "the Lord's doing, wonderful to see", He wasn't referring to the beauty of creation. He meant how God had made something wonderful OUT OF man's ignorance and selfishness. He is such a master of creation, that He takes what we have done in ignorance and selfishness and turned it into such a work of art that we behold it and say, "This is the Lord's doing, and it's wonderful to see!"

So keep that in mind next time someone argues with you. The next time someone seems to be ruining things. The next time someone breaks something invaluable, and makes you think, "That's why we can't have nice things." God will work it, even THAT, for your good. Just hang in there, seek His face, and wait for Him to set all wrongs right.

This is the Lord's doing. And it is wonderful to see.

God, thanks for making all things work together for our good - even the things we try very hard to mess up.