In the Details

God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, 

and in the flowers and clouds and stars.  — Martin Luther

An innovative architect of the early twentieth century, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is quoted as saying “God dwells in the details.” Much speculation has gone into what he meant, but one modern architect put it this way: “Working out details requires great application – something akin to religious fervor… always worth remembering…when things are getting a little complicated.” 

It does us good to get a different perspective sometimes, especially when things get complicated. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy taking detailed photographs of flowers. We tend to look at them as bright spots in a field of brown or green bringing us a bit of joy, or blankets of beauty on the flowerbeds, but seeing them close up is a very different experience. 

The stamen of a crocus blossom.

For me, isolating the veins in the petals, the pollen on the stamen; the very elements of their existence, fills me with awe for the Creator whose attention to detail makes my perfectionist tendencies look like gross recklessness. 

Just as each detail of the flower’s anatomy (and ours) has a purpose, so each detail of our lives has a purpose as well. Yet, seeing it that way often requires a different perspective, if not a different lens. 

Nevertheless, the God who made the entire universe and attended to every detail of life therein, already knows all the details of our lives and their purpose. He has also already provided a solution to every problem.

There are conditions, of course. Call them details. For example, before the seed even goes into the ground, it must dry out. Once it’s planted, it must have the right elements in the right proportions to produce the green shoot, the flower, and the fruit of the harvest. None of this happens overnight. There is no Jack and the Beanstalk experience when it comes to discovering our purpose. 

It requires following the detailed instructions of the Creator who made us, who orders our steps to accomplish His purpose for our lives. It requires trusting that He is the one working in us, speaking into our spirits, bringing all of the elements together according to His plan. Indeed, it requires believing that He dwells in the details.

The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives (Psalm 37:23, New Living Translation).

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life (Ephesians 2:10, Berean Study Bible)

For the universe owes its origin to Him, was created by Him, and has its aim and purpose in Him (Romans 11:36, Weymouth New Testament)

For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1, New Heart English Bible)  

Excerpted from While it Is Called Today

a 30-day photo-devotional

By Dee Marvin Emeigh

 © 2018 Livingwell Seed Co Press