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May 2, 2018

A Wonderful World

J. Michael Ripski   |   Read Psalm 98:1-9

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Lectionary Week
April 30 – May 6, 2018
Scripture Overview

The Acts passage continues to tell the story of the advance of the gospel. The Holy Spirit falls on a group of Gentiles. They believe and are baptized, thus showing God’s inclusion of all peoples in the plan of salvation. Psalm 98 is a simple declaration of praise. All creation will sing to and rejoice in the Lord. The two passages from John are linked by their emphasis on the relationship between love and obedience. We do not follow God’s commandments in order to make God love us. On the contrary, because God has first loved us and we love God in return, we follow God’s teachings. Jesus provides the model for us, being obedient to his Father out of love.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

• Read Acts 10:44-48. When has the Spirit of God brought you to a new understanding?
• Read Psalm 98. Does the guest of honor’s coming to judge the earth make you feel easy or uneasy? Why?
• Read 1 John 5:1-6. Is your life one of “oughts,” “musts,” and “shoulds”? Do you impose them on yourself, or do they come from others? How do you move toward loving obedience?
• Read John 15:9-17. How do you experience yourself as a manifestation of the Logos?

Respond by posting a prayer .

Psalm 98:1-9

1 Sing to the LORD a new song because he has done wonderful things! His own strong hand and his own holy arm have won the victory! 2 The LORD has made his salvation widely known; he has revealed his righteousness in the eyes of all the nations. 3 God has remembered his loyal love and faithfulness to the house of Israel; every corner of the earth has seen our God’s salvation. 4 Shout triumphantly to the LORD, all the earth! Be happy! Rejoice out loud! Sing your praises! 5 Sing your praises to the LORD with the lyre with the lyre and the sound of music. 6 With trumpets and a horn blast, shout triumphantly before the LORD, the king! 7 Let the sea and everything in it roar; the world and all its inhabitants too. 8 Let all the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains rejoice out loud altogether 9 before the LORD because he is coming to establish justice on the earth! He will establish justice in the world rightly; he will establish justice among all people fairly.

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.

The psalmist invites us to join the choir for the Lord’s victory celebration. There will be instrumental accompaniment, strings, and brass. Even Creation’s children will be there: the seas roaring, the floods clapping their hands, and the hills alive with the sound of music. What a victory party it’s going...

Eternal Guest of Honor, teach me that in losing I win a wonderful life and a wonderful world. Amen.


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