Faithfulness:  Amidst Diversity

Read: Psalm 148.

Focus: Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!

Consider: Growing up in a Midwestern family, I thought all the world was to be a certain way. Like us. Time and travel helped me see and grow into the knowledge that all the world is of various ways. Diversity is certain.

Adjusting to that fact remains hard for me, even though I am also a variation. The psalmist helps me with seesaw verses that present the call and fact of creation. For worship and understanding, we can live into that praise. 

But leaders disregard the facts of life. They act in ways that make no sense while promoting just one way of thinking. Consequently bombs are made to spread order through destruction. Laws are made to protect institutions but crush relationships.  Unjust economic practices are said to guarantee prosperity. Canon Law is fired at loving disciples by churches who love to ballyhoo discipline. Irony is clear. 

When the people come to praise God in the same company as the psalmist, embracing and extolling diversity, then we will be faithful in our worship. 

Pray:  Creating God of diversity, enable us to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, to which indeed we are called in the one body. And be thankful.

All contents copyright 2006 by the Wisconsin Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action. Permission is granted to United Methodist congregations, individuals and groups to reproduce and distribute this devotional without charge. All other use requires the advance permission of the editor.