Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 47:1-9
Ps 47:1-9
1 Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. 2 How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth! 3 He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. 4 He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. Selah 5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. 8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. 9 The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.
Eph 1:3
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
It is so easy for us to read a Psalm like this one and then begin to wonder how this means anything to me. I am not a king, don’t rule a nation and not a Jew. While we believe that God is in control of the nations how does that affect me as an individual in my small solitary life? This Psalm (as do many others) praises God for his power, his majesty and his wisdom. It also acknowledges both his control of things on earth as well as his concern, love and care for his people.
As the people of God today, we should find comfort in knowing that God is in our lives on a daily basis. He knows our every trial, our cares, heartaches and pains, as well as our triumphs, joys, successes and the love we share with others. Being in Jesus Christ affords us so much more than just our spiritual relationship with him. The second reading begins with this wonderful relationship but because we are one with God in Christ, we are one with each other. We have the friendship and the joy of so many bothers and sisters who share with us in our lives.
Later in this same book, Paul tells us to make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. He doesn’t say to make peace but to maintain the peace that comes from being one in Christ. James says the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable. John says that it only makes sense if we are children of God that we love each other. How can we say we love God whom we have not seen if we don’t love each other whom we have seen? Jesus said this love for each other is the badge of our discipleship.
Heavenly Father, fill me with your love so that it can be said of me as it is of you, that I am love. Help me love others, even those who don’t love me. Give me a heart of compassion and forgiveness instead of being selfish and judgmental. Use me to encourage others in serving you. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
