For His Glory
Scripture Reading — Psalm 8
You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet ... Psalm 8:6
It's been said that Francis of Assisi treated every man or woman like a king or a queen. That's a conviction the psalmist shares. God created us to have dominion (Genesis 1:28). We are kings and queens, rulers over the works of his hands, in charge for his glory.
When I was growing up in southern California, our house was next to the dairy where my father worked. One winter the rains were particularly heavy, and the cows in the corrals were up to their bellies in muck, unable to lie down and forced to sleep standing up. The rains went on for days, and the cows were miserable. Finally the boss asked my father if the fence could be cut down between our properties so that the cows could get out of the muck and onto the dry ground of our home's front yard.
They cut the fence down, and to our amazement, in?stead of lying down to rest, the cows began to prance and frolic! Those big black-and-white Holsteins began to prance around like newborn lambs--dancing with joy and relief.
Exercising our dominion to the glory of God means we seek to make all things in our charge dance with joy, whether it be our children, spouses, students, cows, gardens, woodlands--everything! Christ's goal, and so our goal, is to make God's creation dance with joy.
Lord God, you entrust us with the care of your creation. As your redeemed people, grant us the wisdom to be good rulers, in Jesus' name. Amen.
About the author — Jack Roeda
Rev. Jack Roeda is the senior pastor at Church of the Servant Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and an adjunct professor of preaching at Calvin Theological Seminary. He is married to Carol Sue Kok, and they have three children and two grandchildren. Pastor Roeda has served two previous churches: Exeter (Ont.) Christian Reformed Church and Calvary Christian Reformed Church, Holland, Michigan.
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