{"id":1080,"date":"2010-04-11T00:00:01","date_gmt":"2010-04-11T00:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2010\/04\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling.html"},"modified":"2010-04-11T00:00:01","modified_gmt":"2010-04-11T00:00:01","slug":"sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2010\/04\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling.html","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tremble!<\/h3>\n
READ Psalm 114:1-8<\/a><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
     at the presence of the God of Jacob.
\n<\/p>\n

Psalm 114:7<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

One
\nSaturday morning when I was a teenager, my friend Mike and I rode our
\nbikes to our school in order to play handball. The school was deserted,
\nand we had our pick of the outdoor courts. During the game, three older
\nboys approached us. They were dressed in gang apparel and carried
\nmenacing chains with them. I sensed that Mike and I were in deep
\ntrouble.<\/p>\n

Not knowing quite what to do, I invited them to play
\nhandball with us. They weren’t interested. They claimed to be from a
\nrival school and were looking to beat up students from our school.
\nThree of them with weapons versus two of us with a handball didn’t
\nstack up well. So, in my coolest voice, I tried to suggest alternatives
\nto the violence that seemed inevitable. Finally, I came up with
\nsomething they were interested in: my money. Yet, as I opened my
\nwallet, I could hardly grasp the bills because my hands were shaking
\nuncontrollably with fear. The boys seemed to think this was funny, but
\nI didn’t care, as long as they took my money and left us alone, which
\nis how the story ended. But it took several minutes before my body was
\nable to stop trembling. <\/p>\n

Psalm 114:7 calls the earth to tremble
\n“at the presence of the Lord.” The Hebrew verb translated as “tremble”
\ncan also mean “writhe” in pain or “be in labor” while giving birth. It
\nconnotes an uncomfortable body movement, one that happens without our
\nchoice. In the poetic language of Psalm 114, the earth should tremble
\nin recognition of God’s mighty power, just as the Red Sea parted before
\nthe approaching Israelites (114: 3-5).<\/p>\n

Of course, this poetic
\nlanguage is really meant for us, not the planet on which we live. We
\nare the ones who need to tremble before the awesome power of God. Yet,
\nunlike the menacing boys on the handball court, God does not want to
\nhurt us or to steal from us. Rather, he comes in power and grace to
\nsave us. Thus we tremble before him, not only because we are
\novershadowed by his might, but also because we are overwhelmed by his
\nmercy.<\/p>\n

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION<\/strong>: Can you
\nremember a time in life when you were trembling? What helps you to
\nglimpse the power of God? What shows you his amazing grace? <\/p>\n

PRAYER<\/strong>:
\nAll-powerful and all-gracious Lord, how easily I take you for granted.
\nI can minimize your might and neglect your grace. Yet every now and
\nthen, your Spirit opens up new vistas for me that I might see you
\nafresh. Do it again, Lord! Show me your power. Stun me by your mercy. <\/p>\n

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?<\/p>\n

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?<\/p>\n

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?<\/p>\n

Amen<\/em>. <\/p>\n

(The
\nwords to this prayer are from the hymn, “Were You There When They
\nCrucified My Lord,” words and music both anonymous, public domain.)<\/span><\/p>\n

_________________________________________________<\/p>\n

<\/strong>\"high-calling-screenshot-4.jpg\"Would you like to receive a Daily Reflection like this one in your email inbox each morning?  <\/strong>
\nHere’s how . . . . <\/em><\/strong>
\nThis devotional comes from The High Calling of Our Daily Work <\/em>(www.thehighcalling.org<\/a>), a wonderful website about work and God<\/em>. You can read my Daily Reflections<\/a> there, or sign up to have them sent to your email inbox<\/a> each day. This website contains lots of encouragement for people who are trying to live out their faith in the workplace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tremble! READ Psalm 114:1-8   Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,     at the presence of the God of Jacob. Psalm 114:7 One Saturday morning when I was a teenager, my friend Mike and I rode our bikes to our school in order to play handball. The school was deserted, and we had our…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[100,242,99],"class_list":["post-1080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sunday-inspiration","tag-god","tag-sunday-inspiration","tag-tremble"],"yoast_head":"\nSunday Inspiration from The High Calling - Mark D. 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Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1080","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1080"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1080\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}