You Are Wonderfully Made
Do you know that verse Psalm 139:14 about being wonderfully made? It is a verse that I personally need to look back on and remember when I feel down or low or unhappy about life. I can feel empty emotionally or even relationally and forget that when people let me down (for whatever reason) that God still loves me and I am important to Him.
The verse starts off with "I praise You" which indicates the writer being thankful to God. It is not a sarcastic way of expression like Paul did with the churches when he wrote them letters. But a heart felt praising. When you go through a rough time (and we all have had them) thank God afterwards when it is over. Praise Him for the little things. One little thing I love to praise God for is a parking good spot in my neighborhood. That may sound silly, but if you cannot thank God in the small, how will you even see Him in the bigger things? He is always working for you and to show you how you can be thankful. I have been through some tough times and can see God's hand in those times and for that I praise Him.
Next the psalmist writes "for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." I can figure out what wonderfully made can mean, but what about fearfully? Well, that means having a "fear" of God. I don't mean fear like the fear we have of wild animals but a respectful fear, like what one might have for a parent. To know that you are made to respect God and that God made you wonderful shows how the Lord wants you to honor Him for what He does and what He did.
And lastly, "Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." Acknowledge that you know what God Has done, whether it is large or small, acknowledge God. Imagine if someone bought you a house as a gift and you never thanked them for it. That may sound silly, but throw that same ideology onto God who we know has us fearfully and wonderfully made. How insane is it to not acknowledge God for that? Humble yourself and stop taking credit for everything and acknowledge the work God has done.
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Strength for Our Thinking
As Paul ends his letter to the Philippians he sends them off with words of encouragement in the Lord. Think about how often we choose words that are not encouraging and are condemning outside of what God wants from us. I often wonder if the words people say are what God wanted from them or what they just wanted to say themselves. But, in verse 8 Paul says, "Finally,
brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there
is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about
these things." He wants us (as it is God honoring) to focus on what is righteous and not unrighteous things.
How do we do that? What power do we pull from? In verse 13, Paul says "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." He shows us the source of his strength which is not his own. He relies in God/Christ/the Holy Spirit to give him the strength he needs. It is not will power, but God power.
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Praise and Appreciation
For as much as Paul condemns what the Corinthian Christians, do, say and think, he will also praise them for what he sees them doing that is right. In verses 6-7, Paul says that God comforts the downcast (saddened) and that he and his ministry were comforted by Titus coming and him being comforted by the Corinthian Christians. Here he not only praises the church, but he also acknowledged God as a comforter and sees Titus as solution to needed comfort. He is praising and respecting everyone in this section. No matter how people look at Paul for his intensity and some times his sarcasm, you can't over look his appreciation of
the blessings.
Paul ends this section of text in verse 16 once again affirming the church. He tells them that he has full confidence in them. He doesn't take shots at them and undercut them and say that they need to prove themselves to him. While he would have every right to do so, how does that build them up? It doesn't. That wouldn't be very encouraging. Paul sees the positives and points them out.
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The Deity, The Healing, The Opposition
Upon being brought aboard land safely, they found that the island was called Malta. The native people there were very kind to Paul and his group. There was a moment when Paul had been bitten by a snake and did not become ill or have anything bad happen to him. The native people initially thought Paul was evil because he had been bitten, but since nothing bad happened after the snake bite, they considered him a God (Acts 28:1-6). And then we see Paul heal the chief man on the island and get honored for his actions (Acts 28:7-10). It's kind of interesting how in one moment people can perceive you one way and then praise you the next.
Upon arriving in Rome, Paul began to defend himself again pleading his case of innocence. But this time instead of being opposed, they met him with chances for open discussion. They said that there have been no letters from Judea and no one traveling with Paul had anything negative to say about him. They set up a day for Paul to speak and share the gospel and that he did (Acts 28:17-23). Some were convinced by what he said while others opposed (verse 24), but he was allowed to do so without any pressure from the Pharisees (verse 31).
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