May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
2 that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations
6The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, has blessed us.
7 May God continue to bless us;
let all the ends of the earth revere him.
Psalm 67
I often think of this psalm at this time of year. “The earth has yielded its increase”, that is apparent as the produce of gardens, and the crops of the field have reached maturity. It is a wonder to enjoy fresh fruit from the orchards, vegetables from the gardens and watch farmers harvesting grain for the coming winter.
There are many challenges in our daily lives, and stresses on our society. But in the midst of difficult economic news, tragedies that have impacted our community, and concerns for loved ones each day, there remains this over-riding truth: “We remain a very blessed and fortunate people.”
Now, along with a sense of thanksgiving and wonder, the psalm makes one other declaration: We are blessed to be a blessing. God is gracious to us, but also has, from the beginning, declared that we are not simply to enjoy this goodness, but to share it. That sharing takes as many forms as there are children of God. Yes, we can share the bounty of the earth, and we can also share the joy of fellowship, the opportunity to celebrate, a listening ear to the burdened heart, and the warmth of an embrace to the lonely or hurting.
We are a blessed people, and with those blessings come opportunities to live and share the good news of God our creator, Christ our redeemer, and the Spirit who gives us strength each day.
Peace,
Pastor John Twiton
