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Say So!

Daily Reflection / Produced by The High Calling
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Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.

Psalms 107:2

During the past several summers, I've had the privilege of being part of the leadership team of Laity Lodge Youth Camp, a sister program to The High Calling and Laity Lodge. At two marvelous camps in the Texas Hill Country, we welcome hundreds of kids who have more fun than they could ever imagine, make lifelong friends, and experience God's love in Jesus Christ. (For a glimpse of LLYC, check out this YouTube video.)

One of my favorite times at camp is called "Say-So." It happens on the last night, when campers gather to share with each other what God has done in their lives. At first, they sit quietly, waiting for the right time to speak. Then, one after another, they speak of what God has taught them or how he has touched their hearts. I often feel my eyes fill with tears as I hear how the grace of God has made such a difference. Children whose parents abandoned them talk about the love of their Heavenly Father. Those who have never felt as if they mattered bear witness to how much they matter to God and his work in the world. I love "Say-So" because I get to see God at work. I rejoice for our campers, and my own faith is renewed through gratitude.

The name "Say-So" comes from Psalm 107:2. The New Living Translation reads, "Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies." The classic King James Version says, "Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy." Did you catch that? Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.

Psalm 107:2 reminds me of how much I appreciate hearing the ways God has touched others. Whether at camp, in a worship service, in a small group, or simply in an informal conversation among friends, you and I can be greatly encouraged by what others share with us. We all need more "Say-So" times in our lives.

This psalm also reminds me to be the one who says so. So often I share my gratitude with the Lord, but not with others. Thus, I am encouraged today to "say-so" in my own life. In fact, that's what I did a couple of paragraphs ago, sharing with you how much God has ministered to me through the "Say-So" times at camp. May you find an occasion today to do the same for others.

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: Can you think of especially powerful "Say-So" times in your life? Are there places where you fairly regularly hear from others about how God is at work in their lives? Are there contexts where you share with others on a regular basis? What has God done in your life that ought to be shared today? With whom will you share it? How will you "say so"?

PRAYER: Gracious God, thank you for the blessing that comes when I hear people tell of your goodness. Thank you, in particular, for the "Say-So" gatherings at camp. Thank you for your transforming grace in the lives of our campers and for the privilege of sharing in their gratitude.

Yet, Lord, we need more than a yearly dose of "Say-So." We need to hear regularly of your work in the lives of others. And we need to share our experiences of your grace. Help us to be people who "say so." May we share freely and listen deeply, so that you might be glorified. Amen.

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P.S.: This coming Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, a day on which Christians celebrate the outpouring of the Spirit and the birth of the church. If you'd like to learn more about Pentecost and its meaning, you might find helpful an article I've written: What Is Pentecost? Why Does It Matter?

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Social Justice at Work

When God asks us to take care of the orphan, widow, and the poor, what does that mean for our workplaces? How do we follow a social justice mandate in our offices, schools, warehouses and retail establishments? And how does it change our world when social justice works the way God intended?

In the series Social Justice at Work, The High Calling explores social justice in the places we work and the ways we work. Join us as we discuss how our calling to the "least of these" affects us outwardly in our jobs, and inwardly as we perform our jobs, via theme-related Bible reflections, featured articles, and discussion starters. We encourage you to add your questions, concerns and comments, engage with us on social media (especially Twitter and Facebook), and invite your friends and colleagues to do the same.