Our scripture this morning is Psalm 8:3-5 (ESV).
When I look at 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, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
I probably heard this as a child, but my best memory of it is singing a choral version at a high school graduation – do any other Omaha Burke Concert Choir members ’72-’74 remember doing this? Even then I was awed and inspired by the message of this passage. God made everything there is in perfect order, including us!
Where there is imperfection, it comes from us and our wrong choices. God formed us in His own image, “a little lower than the heavenly beings” with a responsibility to care for creation. We have not always lived up to this charge, which includes a command to love one another.
In all of God’s wonderful handiwork there is only one of each of us. While we are all similar, we are all unique and God knows us each by name, just as He knows everything He made. It is up to us to accept the “glory and honor” He offers when we return in repentance, and go in His name everywhere.
Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we have fallen and ask Your forgiveness. Bless us to be the people You intend, sharing Your love with the world. Amen.
