Wednesday, January 30, 2008

 

Dejunk our Life Series

Psalm 150:2 “….for his surpassing greatness.” 

 

Our Great God and His Great People

 

Albert Schweitzer said, “Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it’s the only thing.”    Albert Schweitzer’s accomplishments could have made any three men great.    He was a theologian, philosopher, physician, music scholar, and writer.  He also received the Nobel Prize in 1952.   His example in leadership is phenomenal.    

 

In his 20’s he wrote outstanding works on Bach, Jesus, and the fundamentals of pipe organs.  He became an outstanding organist, church pastor, and a teacher at a seminary with a doctorate in Philosophy.    At age 30, Schweitzer became aware of the desperate need in Africa for medical care.   He entered medical school and devoted the rest of his life to serving the people of Africa.    He and his wife opened a hospital in the then province of French Equatorial Africa.  That country had one of the worst climates in the world and yet, with the very primitive people of that day, he provided desperately needed medical care.  

 

Growing from the experience, he developed an ethical principle called, “Reverence for Life.”    This philosophy spoke to the need for humans to respond to others and to the experience of living.   In 1952, at age 78, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. His life demonstrated the concept of “Reverence for Life.”  

 

Integral to this principle was his faith in our Savior Jesus Christ.   That faith was not a compartmentalized religion.   His faith was a force of motivation and change.  He was considered one of the great leaders of his era.   He heard of a need and he focused his attention on that concern.  

 

Many of us waste our lives on what is trivial.  I believe that God wants to encourage people to reach for the sublime.   Why would we not, if we only have one life, want it to be other than living nobly?   We can change the world best by setting an example of greatness.   The example however is not from our own vision and dent of will but from God.  

 

These words from Psalm 150:2 says it more accurately.  They tell us that if we can follow the psalmist’s words we will live in the greatness of God. 

            “Praise him for his acts of power; Praise him for his surpassing greatness.”

             

Like Schweitzer, let the greatness of God inspire greatness in us.  

Prayer:

Dear God,

May I follow your example and be sublime.  Amen.