Monday 30 December 2024

Psalm 150

Background
What images does the phrase 'lordship of Christ' create for you? For many people 'lord' is problematic: it's an elitist title, meaning a feudal landowner or a privileged political grouping in the UK parliament – someone who has control over others. This is not what we might associate with the servanthood of Jesus that we will explore in 'A Word in Time' tomorrow.

'Jesus is Lord' was probably the earliest creed of the communities of believers that sprung up after Jesus ascended to heaven. At this time, rulers in many lands were considered to be divinely appointed and were often referred to as Lord and so the word itself had historically religious connotations. Addressing Jesus as Lord conveyed the understanding that obedience to Jesus will inevitably take precedence over any earthly or political authority. It acknowledges his divinity.

Today’s passage from the Letter to the Hebrews reinforces Jesus' divine authority. It actually goes further to affirm that Jesus is “the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being” (v. 3), he sits at God’s right hand (v. 3), and is to be worshipped by all God’s angels (v. 6). It also makes it clear that Jesus’ work of salvation has now been achieved – “When he had made purification for sins, he sat down…”(v. 3).

These thoughts and images, so filled with wonder, love and praise, are the foundation of Christian faith and are regularly expressed in prayers of adoration. Does God need our adoration, or do we need to remind ourselves that God, supremely embodied in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, needs to be worshipped as the Lord of our lives?

When our world is full of confrontational politics and selfishness and greed seem more newsworthy than stories about the 'common good' we might care to 'ponder anew' the implications of saying that Jesus is Lord of our lives.

To Ponder:

• For most people, prayer is an important part of caring for the world. In our own daily activity, how do we demonstrate such care-filled prayer in action? Today, can we too, filled with God’s Spirit, 'reflect God’s glory'?
• 'Of the Father's love begotten' (Singing the Faith 181) is a lovely ancient hymn to meditate upon. It includes the line: “Let creation praise its Lord, evermore and evermore”. How can we join in practically?

Prayer
The prayer today comes from the Croft House Study Group in Shetland:
Dear God, we pray that each one of us feels your presence now and very day, whatever the circumstances, time or place. May we all reflect you, in our own particular words, thoughts and deeds, in such a way that others too can come to feel and know your presence throughout the whole world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible notes author: Michael King
Michael is a Methodist local preacher in Salisbury and was Vice-President of the Conference in 2012/2013.