The Amazing Human Body.

Psalm 139:14 (New International Version)

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

   your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

It is truly wonderful the way the human body has been made. I marvel at the growth of the fetus in the womb, the body's ability to cope with the rigors of everyday life, and the capacity of the nervous system to respond to the world around us. As today's verse says, I know full well that my Lord's works "are wonderful". 

Despite the occurrence of disease and epidemics that have taken the lives of untold millions, human beings continue to survive. According to the story of the Garden of Eden, this ability to survive was engineered into the original design of our physical bodies even before human beings would be faced with harmful disease-causing microbes. Whenever a new disease appeared, many people did succumb, but others developed immunity. This immunity is brought about by millions of disease-fighting white blood cells -- macrophages -- which can recognize a pathogen, destroy it, and call upon a host of other blood cells -- lymphocytes -- to produce the antimicrobial proteins -- antibodies -- which conquer the invading pests. Some of these blood cells -- memory cells -- lie in wait for just the moment when a microbe may once again appear. It can then elicit the army of microbe fighters to destroy that pathogen even before it can cause the disease.

I am amazed at the foresight of the Engineer who prepared these bodies of ours to interact with the physical world and to deal with viruses, bacteria, and protozoan parasites -- all of which, without these defenses, would have made our species extinct. Yes, we are "fearfully and wonderfully made"!

Dear Lord we thank You for making us who we are and what we are. We are truly marvellous, and we praise You for our wonderful design. Help us to use our bodies for Your service today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.