{"id":1078,"date":"2011-06-19T01:14:48","date_gmt":"2011-06-19T06:14:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/markdroberts\/?p=1078"},"modified":"2015-03-13T15:39:03","modified_gmt":"2015-03-13T20:39:03","slug":"sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-come-and-listen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/markdroberts\/2011\/06\/19\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-come-and-listen\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling: Come and Listen!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Come and Listen!<\/h2>\n
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Psalm 66:1-20<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Come and listen, all you who fear God,
\nand I will tell you what he did for me.<\/p>\n

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Psalm 66:16<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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In Psalm 66, an anonymous poet celebrates God\u2019s awesome deeds. His example of testifying to what God has done serves as an example for the whole earth, so that everyone might join in the celebration (66:1-4). In verse 5, the psalmist invites people to \u201ccome and see what our God has done.\u201d This \u201cseeing\u201d happens as the psalmist uses words to paint a vivid picture of God\u2019s salvation of Israel from Egypt.<\/p>\n

Then, in verse 16, the psalm writer invites people not to see, but to hear: \u201cCome and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me.\u201d In particular, the psalmist relates how the Lord heard his prayer when he cried out for help. Thus the psalm concludes: \u201cPraise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me\u201d (66:20).<\/p>\n

Psalm 66:16 reminds me of the power of a verbal declaration of God\u2019s faithfulness. Some Christian traditions speak of \u201csharing your testimony.\u201d Others talk about \u201cbearing witness.\u201d At Laity Lodge, where I work, we often invite people to be a \u201cwitness\u201d in the context of a retreat. Though their shared words might focus on how they first came to know the Lord, witnesses usually offer a broad account of how God has worked in their lives, right up to the present moment. Often, witnesses share openly their struggles and failures, as well as their successes and victories. Their words and their lives point to God\u2019s love and grace in action.<\/p>\n

The stories of the witnesses at Laity Lodge have unique power both to glorify God and to encourage those who have gathered in their own walk of faith. Psalm 66 encourages us to share with others the ways God is at work in our lives, not only during retreats at Laity Lodge, but in all sorts of different settings. As you invite people to \u201ccome and listen\u201d to what God has done and is doing in your life, God will be honored and people will be drawn to a deeper relationship with him.<\/p>\n

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:<\/strong> Have you heard \u201ctestimonies\u201d or \u201cwitnesses\u201d that have been especially encouraging to you? Do you ever tell others about what God is doing in your life? Are there situations in your life where you might be more open in bearing witness to God\u2019s grace?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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PRAYER: <\/strong>Thank you, dear Lord, for the example of Psalm 66. I am reminded by this psalm of the power of the spoken word to glorify you and to point people to you. Thank you for those who have openly shared with me how you have made a difference in their lives. I think of my Sunday School teachers, camp counselors, church members of Irvine Presbyterian, and many who come to retreats at Laity Lodge. How grateful I am for their testimony to you.<\/p>\n

Help me, Lord, to speak openly with others about your grace at work in my life. May I freely tell people of how you have saved me and blessed me, like the writer of Psalm 66. Amen<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

_________________________________________________<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Would you like to receive a Daily Reflection like this one in your email inbox each morning?<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how . . . .<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This devotional comes from The High Calling: Everyday Conversations about Work, Life, and God <\/em>(www.thehighcalling.org<\/a>). You can read my Daily Reflections there, or sign up to have them sent to your email inbox each day. This website contains lots of encouragement for people who are trying to live out their faith in the workplace. The High Calling<\/em> is associated with Laity Lodge, where I work.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Come and Listen! Psalm 66:1-20 Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. Psalm 66:16 In Psalm 66, an anonymous poet celebrates God\u2019s awesome deeds. His example of testifying to what God has done serves as an example for the whole earth, so that everyone […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7933],"tags":[21647,21642,10247],"class_list":["post-1078","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-inspiration-high-calling","tag-high-calling","tag-inspiration-high-calling","tag-psalm-66"],"yoast_head":"\nSunday Inspiration from The High Calling: Come and Listen!<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Come and Listen! Psalm 66:1-20 Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. 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