Reign of God

The Christian Community Comes Alive

Seeds of New Growth
Thessalonica, Beroea, and Athens

Psalm 47  The Message

A Psalm of the Sons of Korah

47 ^1-9 Applause, everyone. Bravo, bravissimo!
    Shout God-songs at the top of your lungs!
God Most High is stunning,
    astride land and ocean.
He crushes hostile people,
    puts nations at our feet.
He set us at the head of the line,
    prize-winning Jacob, his favorite.
Loud cheers as God climbs the mountain,
    a ram’s horn blast at the summit.
Sing songs to God, sing out!
    Sing to our King, sing praise!
He’s Lord over earth,
    so sing your best songs to God.
God is Lord of godless nations—
    sovereign, he’s King of the mountain.
Princes from all over are gathered,
    people of Abraham’s God.
The powers of earth are God’s—
    he soars over all.

 

 

For Reflection

God had prepared Paul well for his transformation.  Paul, a Jew and a  Roman citizen, was trained by Pharisees which, given the influences of Greek philosophies, provided Paul with a rich philosophical background and practiced rhetorical skills.  God prepared Paul to extend the Good News into Gentile domains long before Paul's road to Damascus experience.

Paul brought with him a profound love of God and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, an ability to bring others to the understanding of the freedom and wisdom embedded in following the life of Christ.

As God has prepared Paul, God has prepared us for our part in the Kingdom.  Each of us may not have the talent of Paul, but neither do each of us have the same mission as Paul, or for that matter, the same mission as each other.  God has prepared each of us for our unique place in God's plan to reconcile the world.

Pray

deeply, earnestly, and often.  God will show you the way for which you have been prepared.  Pray that you will stay God centered.  Pray that you, like Paul will influence others to become centered by and through God's love compassion and forgiveness.