Scripture: Psalm 48:11-14
Let Mount Zion be glad; let the towns of Judah rejoice because of your acts of justice! Walk around Zion; go all the way around it; count its towers. Examine its defenses closely; tour its fortifications so that you may tell future generations: “This is God, our God, forever and always! He is the one who will lead us even to the very end.”
Thought for the Day: For the author of the Psalm, there is a great pride in the city of Jerusalem, and the stories of its magnificence are to be told to future generations. Having a positive and healthy identity is so important to a human being, yet as we’ve seen very clearly in recent weeks, there are still those whose sense of identity is at the expense of others. Those who seek their identity as a human being in racist and bigoted organizations and rhetoric are most often those who have no sense of self-worth. They are lost and living without direction, and then someone suggests that all their problems are brought on by _________ (fill in the blank). They find their identity in a narrow and distorted view of the truth. Anyone of a different race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation or political perspective is the enemy and not of God. Yet what we learn in Jesus is that God wants us to have a strong sense of identity and self-worth, but never at the expense of others. Our value is found, not in pushing others down, but by God who esteems and builds-up every single human being. I believe Jesus would say that a good self-image is essential, but we are not called to live a self-centered life. Having self-confidence is important, but we are not about self-exaltation. Being rooted in God’s unmerited love allows us to humble ourselves for the sake of lifting up others. It’s what Jesus did again and again and again.
Prayer: Let my identity be found in your love revealed in Jesus. O Merciful God, your love claimed me as it has every single human being, and I can only enjoy the fullness of that love when I see how your love is extended to every human being – no exceptions. Amen.
