God does not Orbit Us

the-fear-of-the-lord-021Living in the Spirit
August 12, 2015

Scripture Reading: Psalm 111

Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.
Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.
He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the Lord is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant.
He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.
They are established for ever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever.
   Holy and awesome is his name.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.   His praise endures forever. 

I sometimes think we get our relationship with God backwards. We are called by God to do God’s bidding; God is not called to do ours. Jesus did say “ask and it shall be given to you” (Matthew 7:7), but that statement, I think, was given in the context of our being in synch with God. In our scripture today the phrase, “in the company of the upright, in the congregation” is not expressing a self-righteous elitism. It is acknowledging the synergy that occurs when more than one follower of God works together toward attaining God’s vision. God does not orbit us; we orbit God.

The Psalmist emphasized The Lord’s credentials that set God apart and worthy to be our anchor in life: majesty, righteousness, gracious, merciful, loyal, powerful, faithful, just, trustworthy, everlasting, holy, and awesome. These are all traits we are called to emulate as God’s people.

Understanding and acknowledging the sliver of knowing God made available to us, is the beginning of wisdom. We need to push passed the fear of such a One as this and work to know God even more fully as we grow in God’s love and service.

Prayer: O, dear Lord, three things I pray:
to see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly,
follow thee more nearly, day by day.* Amen.

*From Day by Day attributed to Richard of Chichester see at http://www.hymnary.org/text/day_by_day_dear_lord

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.