The Magnifying Glass

Read: Psalm 34:1-8; Revelation 4:11

“Psalm thirty-four verse three. Oh, magify…magify…” Sadie struggled with her memory verse as she and her older sister walked up the driveway to their grandfather’s house.

“Hi, Grandpa,” said Bryn as they went into the house.

“Hi, girls.” Grandpa folded his newspaper. “I was just reading.”

“What’s that, Grandpa?” Sadie pointed to an object on the coffee table.

“That’s his magnifying glass,” Bryn answered.

“That’s right,” said Grandpa. “These old eyes aren’t as good as they used to be, and that magnifying glass makes the letters look bigger so I can see them. Here.” He motioned for them to come close. “Try it.”

“You know what, Grandpa?” Sadie said after looking through the glass. “I’m learning a Bible verse about a magifying glass.”

Bryn laughed. “The word is ‘mag-ni-fy,’ not ‘mag-i-fy,’” she informed her little sister. “And the verse isn’t about a magnifying glass. It says, ‘Oh, magnify the Lord with me…’” Bryn paused. “Wait, magnifying something means to make it bigger, but we can’t make God bigger!”

Grandpa smiled. “True, but when I use this magnifying glass to read, the letters just look bigger to my eyes. But they’re not really any bigger than they were before, are they?”

“No,” said Bryn. “But I still don’t see what it means to magnify the Lord.”

“I think one way we magnify God is by focusing on Jesus and remembering the sacrifice He made to save us,” said Grandpa. “Then, in a way, He becomes ‘bigger’—or more important to us. We think more about Him and how great He is. We get to know Him better and look for ways we can show His love to others.”

“Look!” Sadie held the magnifying glass over a cartoon in the paper. “Look how big this cat’s whiskers are!”

“I think Sadie just pointed out another way we magnify the Lord,” said Grandpa. “She’s the one looking at that cartoon, but even from here we can see some of what she sees. When we magnify the Lord, it helps other people get a glimpse of how great He is too.”

–Hazel W. Marett

How about you? When you think about the greatness of God, what comes to your mind? Do you think about all the wonderful things He’s created? Do you remember all He’s done to save you and recognize Him working in your life? Even in the midst of your busy days, pause to think about how amazing God is and how much He loves you. Then tell others so they can understand how great and good He is too.

Today's Key Verse: Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. Psalm 34:3 (NKJV)

Today's Key Thought: Magnify the Lord