And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
Read all of Isaiah 12
Heb. 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Read all of Matthew 24
Psalm 56:4 |
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Retired missionary Paul R. Lindholm begins a reflection on what he views as the overriding purpose of Christian stewardship—glorifying God—with a humorous vignette:
A church choir director asked a clerk in a music store for a copy of an anthem with the title, “The Glory of the Lord.” The clerk called to the person working in the storage shelves for a copy. Finding none, the clerk called down: “The Glory of the Lord” is out of print.
In print and in thought, the shekinah glory of our Lord does not have the prominence nor attention it should have.
The Westminster Shorter Catechism highlights this subject in its very first question and answer:
Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
What a mind-boggling thought: God created us for the purpose of glorifying and enjoying him! Are you tempted at first glance to question God’s motivation? The fact is that God is a spiritual being who is social. Certainly he enjoys intimacy within the Godhead and among the angels. But beyond that, he desires authentic and voluntary fellowship with the beings he created to be in relationship with him. The enjoyment part is reciprocal (see Zep 3:17). And Psalm 8:4–5even proclaims that God crowns us with a measure of glory and honor. When we think of stewardship, how readily does this aspect occur to us? Lindholm goes on:
Before Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, his father King David had the Ark of the Covenant that contained the two stone tablets on which were engraved the Ten Commandments brought there.
The Ark was the symbol of the presence of God. When the Ark was first placed in the tabernacle in Jerusalem many offerings were made. Then a long hymn of thanksgiving was sung with the chorus accompanied by a large instrumental band. In the hymn were the lines:
Declare his glory among the nations … Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name (1Ch 16:24,29).
The words, “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name” [appear] many times throughout the Psalms.
Dear Father God,
I praise you and worship you. Thank you for your mighty works and deeds!
Source: http://www.biblegateway.com
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Writer’s Thoughts:
Our relationship with the Lord in to be held in High Reverence (Psalm 89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.)
Praise the Lord in all occassions, prayer and supplications. Worshipping the Lord in spirit and truth! Amen
JOHN 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Scriptural References:
Reverence
John 4:22-24 (in Context) John 4 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
John 4:23-25 (in Context) John 4 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
John 14:16-18 (in Context) John 14 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
John 16:12-14 (in Context) John 16 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Ephesians 5:8-10 (in Context) Ephesians 5 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Credit: scpeanutgallery.com
Making a joyful noise to the Lord sounds good and right, doesn’t it? It’s a no-brainer—so much so that it’s easy not to engage our brains all that actively over a praise passage. We’re inspired and uplifted when we read such words. Our gait may even be livelier and our gaze focused higher for a while afterward.
The trouble is, our days are often characterized by an operative word other than praise. Despite our best intentions, that word too easily morphs into busyness. Author Cynthia Heald reflects on this issue:
One day when I was reading Oswald Chamber’s My Utmost for His Highest, I was struck by his insight about a rather obscure and easily overlooked verse in Genesis: “[From there he (Abram) went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD.]†Chambers writes, “Bethel is the symbol of communion with God; Ai is the symbol of the world. Abraham pitched his tent between the two. The measure of the worth of our public activity for God is the private profound communion we have with him. Rush is wrong every time; there is always plenty of time to worship God. Quiet days with God may be a snare. We have to pitch our tents where we shall always have quiet times with God, however noisy our times with the world may be.â€
As I meditated on these thoughts, I concluded that I needed a tent! Since my journey usually takes me into Ai (the world) or to Bethel (which literally means “house of Godâ€), I realized that I needed to pitch my tent (spend time with God) between the world and my times in church. Because I was in church only once or twice a week, I knew that if I wanted to keep my hand in God’s, I needed to spend time alone with him, one-on-one, every day. In order to do this, I found a “tent†and put my “altar†in it. My tent is a cloth bag in which I have placed my altar: my Bible, a journal, and a devotional book. I usually include a Bible study book or a current book that I am reading. A tent can be a cloth bag, a backpack, or a briefcase—anything that is portable and can be taken with you whenever you leave your home.
My tent stays near my chair in my study, and it’s ready to be pitched early in the morning. But if circumstances keep me from spending time with the Lord at the beginning of the day, I pick up my tent and take it with me when I leave the house. (In fact, I take it with me even if I already have had time with the Lord.) Then throughout the day, I look for pockets of time when I can pitch my tent—unplanned times of waiting or having a few extra minutes before a commitment. I can set up my tent in an airport, a doctor’s waiting room, a coffee shop, a library, a park … I have found that I am much more consistent in spending time with the Lord because I always have my tent with me.
Lord, let me rejoice before you! Let me praise you and worship you!
Throughout the day, many thoughts flow through our mind’s from what we will cook for dinner to wondering if our friend’s struggling marriage will survive. In the midst of our thinking, an undercurrent of despair can creep in while we watch the nightly news, hear of a cancer diagnosis, sort out a misunderstanding or deal with whatever we’re facing that day.
Exiled north to Jordan and overflowing with a longing to return to Jerusalem, the psalmist voiced his deep sadness. Rather than denying or minimizing his pain, he clearly identified his sorrow and proclaimed his thirst for God.
Then what? The psalmist spoke to his soul! Was he mad? Did he have a personality disorder? No! He practiced the secret to overcoming hopelessness; the hopelessness that can trickle into our hearts and minds until we find ourselves in the rushing current, tumbling toward a waterfall of despair. Three times in Psalms 42 and 43, the psalmist admonishes his soul to hope in God, for I will yet praise him!
The psalmist encouraged his soul to praise God in other words, to acknowledge, affirm and adore God character, even when he was feeling downcast in spirit or disturbed in heart. Our souls need similar encouragement. When we choose to dwell upon God’s character, we always have something to praise him about: his loving-kindness, goodness, power, faithfulness and mercy. If we want to bolster our souls with hope, we can start by filling our mouths with praise. When we choose to dwell on God’s light and truth, our souls can overflow with the comfort of being guided by God (see Psalm 43:3). When we choose to live close to God’s heart, we overflow with delight and joy (see verse 4).
If you are submerged in pain, sorrow, despair or confusion, maybe you need to give your soul a good talking to. What will you say?
Psalm 42:5
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Psalm 27:13-14; 43:1-5; 84:1-12; Hebrews 6:13-20
BE A BEAREAN
ACT 17:11
New International Version (NIV)
11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
LIFE AND WINDY ROADS
Have you ever rebelled against God? My wayward children,” says the Lord, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.“ Jeremiah 3:22 NLT
“Create in me a new heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me… Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.” Psalm 41:10,12
Rebellion is like a great tug-of-war; the authoritative figure holds one end of the rope while the rebel pulls on the other. This is the trap that satan loves to use on the body of Christ. (John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.) The adversary lays the trap and sometimes we as Christians fall for it. Hence, we rebel against God’s righteous decrees and precepts! God pulls on the rope, not to ruin our lives, but to lead us toward safe footing. (Isaiah 48:17 This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.)
THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Psalm 42:8
Sea of Galilee
(Credit: bibleplaces.com)
Hope in your eternal inheritance:
“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people.
I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him.” Ephesians 1:18-19 NLT
Lion of Judah
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
Revelation 5:5
Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Revelation 5:4-6
Peace Upon the Earth
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
Christ Rules
Matthew 4:10
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ”
Matthew 4:9-11
Luke 4:8
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’ ”
Luke 4:7-9
Joshua 4:24
He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.”
Philippians 2:11
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Hebrews 5:5
In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”
1 Thessalonians 2:12
encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory
Amen
Thy Word is a Lamp 