Monday, November 30, 2015

Pastor's Ponderings, November 30, 2015

Let’s Just Praise The Lord

Last week we said that we should give thanks to God.  We want to continue that theme and say that we should also give Him praise.  We should admire, worship, and adore Him.  Thomas Ken, in 1674, wrote, “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!”  The late Jesse Dixon sang that we get lifted up when we praise His name. When we think of all of His blessings and all that He has done, is doing, and will do for us, it is hard not to praise Him. 

We do not base our admiration and adoration on how well we obey or even if we do not obey Him at all.  We base our praise simply on who He is.  The book of Psalm says that the Lord is my shepherd and I will not have any lack (Psalm 23:1).   He is the one that maintains us.  He gives us a sense of purpose.  He thought about us before we came here and will think about us long after we have left the earth. 

"O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing", a hymn written by Charles Wesley has the lyrics, “O For a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise! The glories of my God and King, the triumphs of His grace!” The last chapter of the book of the Psalms (Psalm 150:6) says let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Everything.  That list includes the believers, the non-believers, the saints, the sinners, the church attenders and those who never attend church, cathedral, or synagogue.  We don’t have to be asking anything of Him or even thanking Him for answered prayer.  Everyone ought to simply admire, adore, worship, and praise the Almighty of Kings, and the Lord of Lords.  We can praise Him everywhere for His greatness and even praise Him using our musical instruments (Psalm 150:1-6). 

As we continue to thank Him, let us also remember to praise our God.  He deserves our constant praise!

Psalm 23
New International Version (NIV)
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Psalm 150:1-6
New International Version (NIV)
Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe,
praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.



No comments: