Scripture: Nehemiah 5:13b
At this the whole assembly said, sovaldi sale “Amen,” and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.

Thought for the Day: “Amen” is a Hebrew word we generally interpret as “so be it.” It’s deep meaning though, has to do with certainty, truthfulness and faithfulness. Jesus often begins his lessons with the statement, “Amen I say to you,” sometimes translated (as in the RSV) as “Truly I say to you.”

Today we say “amen” at the end of prayers, or perhaps we shout it out in church when we think something is particularly truthful. I know many of us think “so be it” when we say “amen.” But that doesn’t really convey the deep relationship “amen” has with the word “truth.” When we affirm a prayer or a command from God with “amen,” we are not just saying the equivalent of “it’s all good,” we’re saying, “it’s true, so let’s make it happen.” In this way, “amen” becomes a call to action, not just a passive response. We’re no longer saying, “so be it,” but are instead responding with action: “let’s make it so.”

Prayer: God from whom all wisdom flows, may I continue to discover ever more truths about you, truths that make me not only stand up and shout, “Amen,” but then inspire me to go out and do something about it.