To Him be glory forever.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor? Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen (Rom. 11:33-36).

Wow! What a doxology!

I love that first part. "How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!" It gives me license to say, "I don't know." When challenged in areas that I just can't seem to comprehend, I don't find it unnerving; I find it affirming. No human being (read "finite") has the capacity to fully grasp God (read "infinite"). If we did ... He wouldn't be God. Often we get trapped into trying to answer things for which we don't have the answer. Don't do it. His ways are "inscrutable".

But it is the last verse to which I really need to pay more attention. "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever." Now, that falls almost entirely outside of our normal perspective. Human beings are naturally self-centered. "I" is one of the first words we learn. "Mine" is one of the first concepts we learn. It is constantly reinforced by society. "You deserve ..." "Your rights ..." "You're entitled ..." Then we come up against this amazing statement from Paul. "From Him and through Him and to Him are all things." First, what is included? "All things." That would exclude very little, to say the least. Second, where do these come from? God. What path do they take? God. Where do they end up? God. We naturally like to think, "It's all about me" when, in fact it really is all about Him. All. From, through, and to.

If we could just get that to sink into our brains. If we could just incorporate that in our everyday thinking. If only we could include it when evaluating our worth, our abilities, our goals, our dreams. If only we could consider it when thinking about the wrongs and injustices we've suffered. If only we could think that way when we relate to others. It's not about me. It's all about Him. Everything is from, through, and to Him. Everything is for His glory forever.

Amen!