Psalm 8 (NRSV)
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Verse 1O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
Verse 2Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger.
Verse 3When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established;
Verse 4what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?
Verse 5Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor.
Verse 6You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet,
Verse 7all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,
Verse 8the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
Verse 9O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Devotion
I live in a community where kids and young adults do marvelous things. We have seen our young people fill sandbags, with little or no notice, when the flood waters rise beyond manageable levels. We have seen our kids raise money and collect food for those who are poor and hungry in our communities. We have truly seen how those we consider to be children are more than willing to share the Good News and to do work in the name of God on behalf of their friends, families and neighbors. Wouldn't it be wonderful if more adults could learn to follow the examples set by these young people? Wouldn't it be great if those of us who consider ourselves to be older and wiser could learn from those we consider to be infants and babes? Instead of considering them to be childish, we could consider them to be co-workers with us in the kingdom of God. When a person of any age is baptized in our congregations, the final words spoken during the baptism service invite the newly baptized into the mission we share. Our task is to find ways to do the mission of Christ with these young people. We do this by giving thanks to God for them and for supporting and working alongside of them.
Prayer
Majestic God, you have placed us in the temporary kingdom of the present world. While we are in this world, there is much work for us to do as fellow laborers. Help us to learn more about how to do this work by watching the example of children and young people. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.