For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. Psalms 139:13-14
No one can hold a newborn baby and be in awe of this amazing little human. Of course, it doesn't happen overnight; there is a period of gestation during which this new life is formed. Thanks to ultrasound, parents can witness the development of the child in the mother's womb. Sometime between 14 and 21 months, you can even know the gender of your baby. At last, the babe is born, and we look upon it with joy and wonder.
The verses today share that same amazement and awe. We exist as God's creation. Yes, mom and dad had something to do with it, but that itself is a gift from God dating back to Adam and Eve. God's caring for us began at the dawn of time and continues beyond our mortal life. He knows us more intimately than we know ourselves.
Not only is God there at our conception. He loves us so much he wants to save us from sin. This salvation could only happen by the sacrifice of his only Son to atone for our sins. The child he formed and knit in Mary's womb. How it must have pained God to watch Jesus crucifixion. But he knew that was not the end, only a new beginning. Thanks to Christ's resurrection, we have the promise of new life. In our baptism, we enter the grave and arise, born again as a new creation.
Precious and loving Father, we give you thanks for our births. You are with us in our mother's womb as we are formed, and you offer us rebirth in baptism. We are thankful for your Son, Jesus Christ, who offered himself as a sacrifice for us. We are grateful for Christ’s resurrection from the grave and his ascension to join you again in Heaven. Through his suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension, we have the promise of life eternal. We give thanks for the Holy Spirit sent to lead and guide us. Mighty God, how wonderful are all your works! Amen.
Blessings!
Pastor Tim
