The Daily Devotional
Friday, March 8, 2024
Crafting Peace from the Ordinary
Friday, March 8, 2024
Crafting Peace from the Ordinary
The Lord said to [Moses], “What is that in your hand?”
Exodus 4:2
Introduction
The Brisbane City Hall, a significant architectural feat of the 1920s in Australia, is not just a marvel of design but also a testament to the power of ingenuity and resourcefulness. Among its distinguished features—the white staircases with marble from Michelangelo's quarry, a tower echoing St. Mark's Basilica, and the Southern Hemisphere's largest copper dome—lies a unique story of its pinnacle. Originally intended to be graced by a grand Angel of Peace, budgetary constraints threatened this vision. Yet, in a twist reminiscent of the biblical narrative in Exodus 4:2, where God transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, local plumber Fred Johnson stepped forward. With nothing more than a toilet cistern, an old lamp post, and scrap metal, Johnson crafted a distinctive orb, a creative solution that has crowned the hall for nearly a century. This story, paralleling the biblical principle of using what is at hand for greater purposes, sets the stage for our exploration of how ordinary elements, in both biblical times and modern day, can become significant in fulfilling grander designs.
Reflection
Just as Fred Johnson ingeniously used readily available materials to craft the pinnacle of Brisbane City Hall, we are reminded that our contributions to God's work do not depend on the magnitude of our resources but on our willingness to use whatever we have at our disposal. This echoes the biblical story of Moses in Exodus 4:1-7, where, filled with doubt about leading the Israelites out of Egypt and questioning their belief in him, Moses finds reassurance in God's simple yet profound question: "What is that in your hand?" Holding nothing more than a staff, a common shepherd's tool, Moses witnesses God's power as the staff transforms into a snake and back again, symbolizing that even the most ordinary objects can play a vital role in God's plans. Similarly, Fred Johnson's resourcefulness in using a toilet cistern, an old lamp post, and scrap metal to create a distinctive orb for the Brisbane City Hall reflects how ordinary items, imbued with creativity and purpose, can become symbols of hope and resilience. Both instances teach us the valuable lesson that it is not the grandeur of what we offer but our trust in God's ability to transform and utilize our humble offerings for His greater purpose.
Application
In our lives, we often overlook the ordinary, not perceiving its potential in God's hands. Like Moses' staff and Johnson's scrap materials, what we have, no matter how seemingly insignificant, can be used by God for greater purposes. We are called to offer what we have to God, trusting in His creative power to use it in ways we cannot imagine. Whether it's our talents, time, or resources, nothing is too small or ordinary for God's extraordinary purposes.
Conclusion
The narratives of Moses' staff and the Brisbane City Hall's pinnacle poignantly illustrate that God's extraordinary works frequently commence with the commonplace. The essence of these stories lies not in the splendor of the resources offered but in the sincerity and faith behind the offering. Regardless of how modest our possessions may seem, they hold immense potential when placed in God's capable hands. This transformation of the ordinary into the extraordinary underscores the truth that our humble contributions, when given with genuine heart and faith, can be magnificently used by God to achieve His divine purposes, reminding us of the boundless possibilities that lie within our simple acts of faith and willingness.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us that You can use the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary. Help us to see the potential in what we have and to offer it to You with a willing heart. Teach us to trust in Your creative power and to be open to the ways You can use our humble offerings for Your greater glory. Amen.
-------------------------
Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA
The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV)© 1989, 1993, the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Click on the image to delve into the uplifting and soul-stirring devotional…
The Brisbane City Hall, a significant architectural feat of the 1920s in Australia, is not just a marvel of design but also a testament to the power of ingenuity and resourcefulness. Among its distinguished features—the white staircases with marble from Michelangelo's quarry, a tower echoing St. Mark's Basilica, and the Southern Hemisphere's largest copper dome—lies a unique story of its pinnacle. Originally intended to be graced by a grand Angel of Peace, budgetary constraints threatened this vision. Yet, in a twist reminiscent of the biblical narrative in Exodus 4:2, where God transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, local plumber Fred Johnson stepped forward. With nothing more than a toilet cistern, an old lamp post, and scrap metal, Johnson crafted a distinctive orb, a creative solution that has crowned the hall for nearly a century. This story, paralleling the biblical principle of using what is at hand for greater purposes, sets the stage for our exploration of how ordinary elements, in both biblical times and modern day, can become significant in fulfilling grander designs.
Reflection
Just as Fred Johnson ingeniously used readily available materials to craft the pinnacle of Brisbane City Hall, we are reminded that our contributions to God's work do not depend on the magnitude of our resources but on our willingness to use whatever we have at our disposal. This echoes the biblical story of Moses in Exodus 4:1-7, where, filled with doubt about leading the Israelites out of Egypt and questioning their belief in him, Moses finds reassurance in God's simple yet profound question: "What is that in your hand?" Holding nothing more than a staff, a common shepherd's tool, Moses witnesses God's power as the staff transforms into a snake and back again, symbolizing that even the most ordinary objects can play a vital role in God's plans. Similarly, Fred Johnson's resourcefulness in using a toilet cistern, an old lamp post, and scrap metal to create a distinctive orb for the Brisbane City Hall reflects how ordinary items, imbued with creativity and purpose, can become symbols of hope and resilience. Both instances teach us the valuable lesson that it is not the grandeur of what we offer but our trust in God's ability to transform and utilize our humble offerings for His greater purpose.
Application
In our lives, we often overlook the ordinary, not perceiving its potential in God's hands. Like Moses' staff and Johnson's scrap materials, what we have, no matter how seemingly insignificant, can be used by God for greater purposes. We are called to offer what we have to God, trusting in His creative power to use it in ways we cannot imagine. Whether it's our talents, time, or resources, nothing is too small or ordinary for God's extraordinary purposes.
Conclusion
The narratives of Moses' staff and the Brisbane City Hall's pinnacle poignantly illustrate that God's extraordinary works frequently commence with the commonplace. The essence of these stories lies not in the splendor of the resources offered but in the sincerity and faith behind the offering. Regardless of how modest our possessions may seem, they hold immense potential when placed in God's capable hands. This transformation of the ordinary into the extraordinary underscores the truth that our humble contributions, when given with genuine heart and faith, can be magnificently used by God to achieve His divine purposes, reminding us of the boundless possibilities that lie within our simple acts of faith and willingness.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us that You can use the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary. Help us to see the potential in what we have and to offer it to You with a willing heart. Teach us to trust in Your creative power and to be open to the ways You can use our humble offerings for Your greater glory. Amen.
-------------------------
Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA
The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV)© 1989, 1993, the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Click on the image to delve into the uplifting and soul-stirring devotional…
No comments:
Post a Comment