“What You’re Known For” - Psalm 67 (Day 5)
Philadelphia and cheesesteaks. Seattle and Starbucks. New Orleans and Po'Boys. Chicago and deep-dish pizza. Baltimore and crab cakes.
It's funny how some cities are famous for specific dishes. When you think of the town, a particular food comes to mind. The two are linked together - you can't have one without the other. Bringing up food on a Friday isn’t to make us hungry, but to close out our time reflecting on Psalm 67, to take a step back and consider what our church is known for - what defines us at our core. Like those cities, what do people think of when they think of us? So, before we begin, I want to provide space for you to pause and consider what people see when people look at your life. Then, take a moment to pray to God and ask that His humble love would be seen in the way you carry yourself into the world around you.
For a final time, I invite you to read Psalm 67. As you do, pay attention to what drives the author’s prayer.
Psalm 67 says this:
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—
2 so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.
3 May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.
4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth.
5 May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.
6 The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.
7 May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.
Take a moment to reflect on what you read:
How do we play a part in making God’s name known throughout the earth?
"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace." -Colossians 1:3-6
The Apostle Paul opened his letter to the believers in Colossae with a prayer of thanksgiving and commending them for their impact. Word began to spread about God moving through a church within this little town. Small steps of obedience rippled out to the surrounding areas, so much so that Paul heard about it during his travels. They were known for their faith and love.
What do you hope defines the Church you call home? What would be the prayer you utter for your community? What do you wish the people of your town would say when talking about your Church? Is it something like, "Oh yeah... that's the community who's reliant on prayer, focused on serving, making a difference in hurting places, welcoming everyone, or displaying love through their actions." A reputation like that requires something from each one of us and it gets built one small step of obedience and faith at a time.
Take a moment and consider…What do you hope defines the Church you call home?
Read today’s passage slowly one more time.
Psalm 67 says this:
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—
2 so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.
3 May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.
4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth.
5 May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.
6 The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.
7 May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.
For those prayers to become a reality, it starts with us, me and you. Have you ever stopped and considered what you're known for? Don't be so quick to answer. Go deeper than your relationship status, job title, or hobbies you enjoy on the weekend. Those easy answers don't highlight what truly matters: your words, actions, demeanor, and, most importantly, impact. Your formation is crucial in bringing God's redemptive purposes into the world. How you live your life becomes His redemptive power in the world around you. Whether you realize it or not, you have influence. You're leaving a legacy, so do it intentionally and with purpose.
So, as we begin to wrap up our time together, we want to provide you some space to respond to what we read and maybe to what God is trying to say to you through Psalm 67. First, take a moment to process this question…When your family and friends think of you, what do you think comes to their minds? What emotions does an encounter with you cause?
Another question to consider is this…How can you leverage your life to leave a legacy of impact for God’s Kingdom?
PRAYER
Father God,
You alone are worthy of praise.
Let everything I do and everything I am glorify You.
When people see me, may they encounter You.
I don't want to make a name for myself, but rather lift Your name up.
Help me not to take lightly the message of hope I carry with me wherever I go. Amen.