I remember how challenging it was as a child to come up with Christmas gifts for my parents. What do you get the person who is raising you, who is making great sacrifices for you, especially when you're shopping with their money? I know they say it's the thought that counts, but you can't wrap a thought, and it's so hard to properly express gratitude to someone when there is such a large power differential. Plus, as a kid, how do you know what your parents need or want? (Well, except our kids always know to get Rachel a chocolate bar.)
So it's even greater when we come to God. It's always made me laugh when I see the line about the earth being God's footstool. Here we are, thinking the earth is amazing, and to God, it's something to prop God's feet on at the end of a long day. When I think of all the things I've used as footstools in my life, it doesn't give a picture of glamour to the earth.
So what is the house that we would build for God? How could we possibly create something to properly glorify God, especially since we can only use the things that God has made? It's highly unlikely that we're going to come up with something new that God hasn't seen or isn't expecting. Hard to surprise an omnipotent being!
But God tells us what is honored -- humility and contriteness. Let us boldly recognize that we do not have the tools or words to properly honor God, but when we confess that it is our heart's true desire to honor God, even though we often get it wrong, that brings honor and glory to God. Humility and honesty bring us closer to the Creator of the universe.
We can never match what God has done. Fortunately, we don't have to -- we can receive with grateful hearts and go forth with humility. The world doesn't depend on us. Let us give thanks!
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