{"id":1161,"date":"2010-06-27T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2010-06-27T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2010\/06\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-some-things-deserve-to-be-repeated.html"},"modified":"2010-06-27T01:00:00","modified_gmt":"2010-06-27T01:00:00","slug":"sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-some-things-deserve-to-be-repeated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2010\/06\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-some-things-deserve-to-be-repeated.html","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Inspiration from the High Calling: Some Things Deserve to Be Repeated"},"content":{"rendered":"
READ Psalm 136:1-26<\/a><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n

\nGive thanks to the LORD, for he is good!
     His faithful love endures forever.
\n<\/p>\n

Psalm 136:1<\/a><\/div>\n

\nMy grandmother had a collection of sayings that she repeated again and
\nagain and again. I heard her say, “Make somebody happy and you’ll be
\nhappy too” hundreds of times. When I became old enough to drive, I’d
\nstop by her house to stock up on cookies. Every time I left, she’d call
\nout, “Drive safely!” In more than a thousand visits to my grandparents’
\nhouse–they lived right down the street from where I grew up–every time
\nmy grandmother would say to me, “We love you!” I knew it already,
\nwithout a doubt. But it felt good to hear it again, anyway.<\/p>\n

Some
\nthings deserve to be repeated, important things, wise things, things
\nthat shape our minds, hearts, and actions. Psalm 136 exemplifies
\nworthwhile repetition. Each of its 26 verses ends with the same phrase,
\n“His faithful love endures forever.” Now that’s some serious repetition
\n. . . just the sort we need.<\/p>\n

The word translated here as “faithful love” is chesed<\/em>
\nin Hebrew. This word, one of the most important in the Scriptures, is
\ntranslated in a variety of ways in English versions of the Bible. The
\nKJV uses “mercy.” The ESV prefers “steadfast love.” The NIV employs
\n“love.” God’s chesed<\/em> is his faithful goodness to us, his love
\nthat never quits, his mercy when we are desperate. Many biblical
\nscholars associate God’s chesed<\/em> with his covenant relationship with Israel. His love is faithful in that the Lord honors his covenant promises.<\/p>\n

Through
\nconstant repetition of “his faithful love endures forever,” Psalm 136
\ntakes this truth and works it into our hearts. When life is hard and
\nwe’re not sure God is there for us, we hear echoes of Psalm 136: “His
\nfaithful love endures forever. His faithful love endures forever.” When
\nwe take on new challenges that stretch us, we are strengthened by the
\nrefrain of his psalm: “His faithful love endures forever. His faithful
\nlove endures forever.” When we delight in the good gifts of life, we
\nrealize that they are just that, gifts from our faithful, loving God.
\nThus our hearts resonate with the words of Psalm 136 that bear
\nrepeating: “His faithful love endures forever. His faithful love
\nendures forever.”<\/p>\n

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION<\/strong>: Can
\nyou remember sentences that were repeated in your family of origin, by
\nyour parents or grandparents? What impact have these sentences had upon
\nyou? How might you live differently today if you truly believed that
\nyou were fully and forever loved by God? <\/p>\n

PRAYER<\/strong>: <\/p>\n

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.<\/p>\n

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit,
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its Beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.<\/p>\n

Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.<\/p>\n

Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.<\/p>\n

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

“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” by Charles Wesley, 1747. Public domain.<\/p>\n

_________________________________________________<\/p>\n

\"high-calling-screenshot-4.jpg\"<\/span>Would you like to receive a Daily Reflection like this one in your email inbox each morning?  <\/strong><\/p>\n

Here’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":"

READ Psalm 136:1-26   Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!     His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:1 My grandmother had a collection of sayings that she repeated again and again and again. I heard her say, “Make somebody happy and you’ll be happy too” hundreds of times. When I became old enough to…<\/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":[],"class_list":["post-1161","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sunday-inspiration"],"yoast_head":"\nSunday Inspiration from the High Calling: Some Things Deserve to Be Repeated - 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\/1161","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=1161"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1161\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1161"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1161"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1161"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}