Beautiful Tapestry

Thursday December 4, 2014

According to an Italian newspaper, more and more immigrants are asking for plastic surgery so they can look more "Western". Some Asians are requesting procedures to reshape eyes and make them rounder; some Africans are undergoing procedures to reduce the size of their lips and reshape their bodies; other ethnicities of darker skin colours are undergoing procedures to lighten their skin because lighter skin is associated with success. These individuals, who aren´t satisfied with their appearances, would probably find it difficult to sing David´s song in Psalm 139.

David recognised that God´s intimate knowledge of him was so complete that it began even before he was born. God sovereignly watched over him as he grew in his mother´s womb (vv. 13-15). Though he was hidden from human view within his mother´s body, he wasn´t hidden from the all-seeing gaze of God (v. 16). When David thought about God´s intimate knowledge of him and His thorough control over of the entire process of his development, it led him to be in awe and wonder at the complexity and beauty of God´s workmanship - every minute physical detail of his body (v. 14). David´s eyes, lips, pigmentation, body type and entire existence were not mistakes that needed to be altered, but gifts from God that needed to be acknowledged.

Let´s join David in his song of praise to God. Like one who weaves a beautiful tapestry, God created every part of our bodies with amazing detail, intention and diversity. He made us the way we are. We´re the beautiful, wonderful and complex workmanship of His hand. May our response to His awesome work include thanksgiving (v.14), loyalty (vv. 19-22) and humble surrender (vv. 23-24) - Marvin Williams

Read
Psalms 139: 1-24
O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; 
You perceive my thoughts from afar,
You discern my going out and my lying down;
You are familiar with all my ways,
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.

You hem me in - behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, 
too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 
If I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and
the light become night around me,"
even the darkness will not be dark to you,
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother´s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I am awake, I am still with you

If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord,
and abhor those who rise up against you?
I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, 
and lead me in the way everlasting.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your Body.

Question to Ponder
What makes it difficult for you to thank God for the way He´s woven you together?
How will you thank God today for the beautiful tapestry He wove together when He created you? 
How will you honour Him with your body this week?

** Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Dec 2014 - Feb 2015 issue.