Monday, May 26, 2014

Remember, Shout & Sing. Psalms 97-98; Titus 3

May the mumbling commence!

Remember the Lord God Almighty.  Sing a new song to the Creator of everything.  Shout the praises of the Lord.  Bow down and be humbled by the justice and fairness of the Lord God.  These are the things that Psalm Ninety-eight calls us to do.  Read it below:

Sing a new song to the Lord,
for he has done wonderful deeds.
He has won a mighty victory by his power and holiness
The Lord has announced his victory
and has revealed his righteousness to every nation
He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel.
The whole earth has seen the salvation of our God. 

Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy! 
Sing your praise to the Lord
with the harp, with the harp and melodious song, 
with trumpets and the sound of the ram's horn.
Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King! 

Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
Let the earth and all living things join in. 
Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!
Let the hills sing out their songs of joy 
before the Lord.
For the Lord is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice,
and the nations with fairness.

Sing and shout to the Lord.  Praise God with all your might and all your talents.  When we do, we join all of creation in praising the Creator.

God has been faithful.  God is faithful.  God will always be faithful.  God remembers.  The victory is God’s.

So, let’s humble ourselves before the majesty and justice and fairness of the Lord.  Sing a new song.  Sing old and familiar songs with a new awareness… in a new way.

Let us leave our foolishness and disobedience behind us.  Let’s take an active part in claiming the salvation that Christ has worked for us.  Read from Titus chapter three:

Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled by others and became slaves to many wicked desires and evil pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy. We hated others, and they hated us. 
But then God our Savior showed us his kindness and love.  He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.  He generously poured out the Spirit upon us because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did.  He declared us not guilty because of his great kindness. And now we know that we will inherit eternal life.  These things I have told you are all true. I want you to insist on them so that everyone who trusts in God will be careful to do good deeds all the time. These things are good and beneficial for everyone.  (Verses 3-8)

Thank you, O Lord, for your mercy and great kindness.  Thank you for the eternal salvation that you have won for us through Jesus Christ.  Help us to actively receive it and leave behind our former ways.

Enough mumbling for now…


Peace Out

No comments:

Post a Comment