Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Called to be the Light

Psalm 67

V. 1: "“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us” 

 

In just a few short verses, the author of Psalm 67 captures quite a lot of information with regard to the purpose of Israel, the nature of God, and what a healthy relationship between God and man looks like.
 

  1. Purpose of Israel
 
The nation of Israel was originally meant to be a mirror that reflected God’s image and light. The entire Old Testament narrative details the struggle Israel faced with its assigned task. In the purpose of Israel, we find practical guidance that can be applied to modern day Christendom. Just as God situated Israel to be a light unto the nations, we are placed strategically to shine the light of God to all the ends of the earth.
 
  1. Righteous Judge and Ruler
 
The fact of the matter is that we live in a world where sin has fully run its course. Justice seems to be either absent or a distant memory. As we head down a slippery slope of injustice, Psalm 67 gives us adequate reason to pause. In spite of all the evil that has taken place, our God still sits on the throne. He rules over all. Our God cannot and will not turn a blind eye to injustice. His very nature exudes justice. Moreover, there is a space for grace and mercy in the midst of his justice. This is exemplified through Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross. The cross was the ultimate intersection of God’s justice and forgiveness. Full embrace of the cross can serve as the compass by which this earth can truly be oriented properly and set right.
 
  1. Positioned to Praise

 
Psalm 67 beckons us to the heart of God through a greater understanding of his divine nature and character. God is worthy of our praise and adoration. That is because he is the provider. In Genesis 22:14, Abraham uses the phrase “Jehovah Jireh”. Translated to English, this phrase means “the Lord will provide”. One way we see and experience God’s blessing is in yield or harvest. Yield is a symbol of God taking care of our needs. His benevolence gives us all the more reason to praise him. In turn, we can pay his blessings forward by taking care of our neighbors. 

 

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we lift up your mighty name at this time. We praise you for who you are. You are the provider, you are just, and you are merciful. We stand in awe of all that you have done in our lives up until this point. Continue to fill us with the light that can only be found in you. Provide for our needs and empower us to point directly back to you in praise and adoration. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.


Thought for the Day

In Jesus Christ is the light which can never be conquered by darkness.

Mr. Christin Mathew
Epiphany Mar Thoma Church, NY
            

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