Devotional

A Worshiping Man

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Acts 10

Cornelius was a devout man. His devotion to God was highly unusual for a Roman, especially one who had risen in the ranks of the Italian Regiment to the position of centurion. The fact that he believed in the Jewish God indicates he had become a proselyte of Judaism. Not only the man himself, but also his family worshiped God. His faith had impacted some of his servants as well as his military personnel (Acts 10:7). He practised his faith by giving, and praying regularly. We might do well to follow his example.

However, in spite of his faithfulness and zeal, something was lacking. God had seen his giving and heard his prayers. An angel appeared to Cornelius about 3 one afternoon. The angel instructed him to send to Joppa for the man Simon Peter. Without explanation this might have seemed a rather mysterious command. Apparently Cornelius trusted God enough to send for Simon Peter.

Peter’s own experience in preparation for this encounter is a story for another day. Sufficient to say he recognized the call of God and went to Caesarea. Cornelius met him in a spirit of reverence. In fact he fell at Peter’s feet in worship. Immediately Peter raised him to his feet reminding him that he was only a man, just like Cornelius.

Peter knew his Bible. The law given to Moses instructed God’s people to worship only the Lord God, Yahweh. The fullness of this thought required 3 commandments – there was to be no other God, they were not to worship anything animate or inanimate, and even the name of God was to be revered, kept sacred (Exodus 20:3-5). Joshua reinforces this theme in his parting address to Israel: “Do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve then or bow down to them” (Joshua 23:7).

However, tribal customs in some countries call for a show of deep respect for visitors, for teachers, preachers and other noteworthy persons. When I tried to raise a dear African lady to her feet on one occasion, I was rebuked for resisting tribal tradition; she would not budge and I felt guilty.

At this point we need a clear understanding of what worship is, in the eyes of God. Does it preclude a respectful appreciation for other human beings in authority or positions of leadership? When Jesus talked about worship He said: “God is a spirit and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Worship includes ascribing “to the Lord the glory due His name…..worship the Lord in the splendour of His holiness” (1 Chronicles 16:29).

Reflection:

Clearly worship is defined by one’s attitude. It is exercised in a variety of ways, but essentially is an act of our spirit, as it seeks God. Bowing to man might be an act of misplaced veneration, but God recognizes the attitude of the heart, and judges us on that point alone. Taking Cornelius as our Biblical example, we see that God, knowing his heart was truly seeking God, gave him the privilege of knowing Jesus by bringing Peter into his life. Our relationship with God is defined by Jesus Himself, in a verse with which we are all familiar “I am the way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me” (John 14:6).

What attitude defines your worship, and mine? Would you be known by God as a true worshiper, whether man or woman?

by Marilyn Daniels

Devotional

Praise the Lord

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Psalm 148

The Psalmist call upon the heavens and the earth to praise God. As we begin the new year, let us think in terms of praising God. The common phrase queries “Is the cup half full or is it half empty?”. How will we choose to bring in another year?

My thoughts were drawn, as I read this Psalm, to the heavens which my grandson is famous for photographing. There are galaxies way beyond what we can see, so when the ancients called upon the “highest heavens” to praise the Lord, their writings stimulate our imagination.

Having just celebrated Christmas, “the heavenly host” has been in our thoughts, since choirs of angels sang at the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ! “Praise Him sun, and moon, praise Him all you shining stars!”. Now why does this seem so important to the author of this Psalm?

We get the answer in verse 5: “For He commanded and they were created”. Just as God spoke our earth into being, He purposed the heavens. “He set them in place for ever and ever”. If mankind has the urge to explore, it is great to know there is a wealth of experience out there which has not even been tapped. That also reminds me that I have been created for a purpose. What an awesome thought!

But – the Psalm doesn’t end there. Things on the earth are called to praise the Lord. All creatures living in the ocean depths as well as land animals and birds, even the weather praise Him. How does “lightening and hail, and snow” praise the Lord? Is it because it shows forth the power of His might?

Last, but not least, “people” including kings and all the rulers on earth, young folks and old, are called to praise God “For His name alone is exalted”. We sing “His name is wonderful”. What do we think about, what life experiences have reinforced the thrill as we sing that song? As we sing, we claim “Jesus” as our personal Lord. What does that mean to you and to me? Scripture teaches us the name of the Lord is holy, majestic, trustworthy, glorious, and everlasting.

Reflection:

God calls us, through the still small voice of His spirit to worship Him for His name’s sake. ”I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake“. We do not need any other reason to “Praise the Lord” do we?

by Marilyn Daniels (MarilynDaniels.net)

Devotional

The Most High God

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Psalm 91

Psalm 91 is a beloved Psalm, used by many to comfort themselves in times of distress. You may be familiar with the word picture given to us by an unknown author: “He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge!” (91:4).

To whom is the writer referring? Reading from verse one we discover that those who “rest in the shadow of the Almighty” qualify for the promise. Why? Because their focus is on the Lord. They aren’t afraid to express their trust -“He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust” (91:1-2).

There is also an “If” in the picture. “If you make the Most High your dwelling”. Think of it…where you live is usually a place of sanctuary, of comfort. Imagine dwelling in the Most High God. What does that look like to you and to me? And the promise goes on – “Then no harm will befall you” (91:9-10a).

You see, we have an enemy – Satan. He cannot get at us when we are dwelling in God. Furthermore we will not be afraid, because this is a place of safety. Feathers don’t promise very great protection, but if you have ever seen a bird of prey surrounding his food with a circle of wings and tail, there is a surprising strength there. And these are God’s feathers. How often do we pause to think about the Most High God and what He is really like?

These feathers provide us with a fortress where God’s faithfulness will be our shield and rampart. A rampart is any physical protective wall. Furthermore “He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. WOW! Do you know there are angels, right now, protecting you if what? “If you make the Most High your dwelling (91:9, 11).

Could you fill in your name, in verse 14? Because __________loves Me, says the Lord, “I will rescue ________. I will protect ____________ because _____________ acknowledges My name”. The last few verses are all about “I”, the Lord who will answer when we call on Him, who will be with us in trouble and deliver us, satisfying us with long life.

The last few words are crucial to our understanding of God. Salvation comes from Him. The Holy Spirit works in our hearts today to show us what the Lord Jesus Christ has accomplished on the cross. If we respond to His invitation, then we form a relationship with God that provides forgiveness for past sins and present, as well as a future salvation which will be complete once we are in heaven. To God be the glory!

Reflection:

Isn’t it amazing how something will leap out from a familiar passage of scripture? This psalm is rich with understanding of the wonderful “Most High God”. His strength, His personal care, His faithfulness and His salvation are outstanding! Are you dwelling in the shadow of the Most High?

by Marilyn Daniels (MarilynDaniels.net)

Devotional

Faithfulness

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Genesis 24:27

Eliezer had promised. Faithful to his word, he journeyed over 500 miles, back into Mesopotamia. Most likely his trip, backed by his wealthy master Abraham, was as comfortable as possible, although, having ridden a camel myself, it would not be my first choice! Abraham ensured he was well provided for, giving him 10 camels, as well as the dowery necessary for the transaction (24:10), if he found a girl who would be adventurous enough to risk marrying an unknown man.

Abraham was being protective. He valued the promise of God to give him the land in which he now lived (24:7). He did not want his son to be tempted by the luxuries of life back in Ur, so when the time came for Isaac to be married, Abraham sent his trusted servant back home to get a bride from among his God-fearing relatives. He was very anxious to avoid a daughter-in-law from among the pagan Canaanites (Genesis 24:3, 8).

Abraham trusted his God to send an angel before Eliezer (24:7). Going back into the records of Abraham’s walk with God we must remember that every male in his household was to be circumcised as a sign of their allegiance to Abraham’s God (Genesis 17:10-13). This gives us a glimpse into the life of the man he entrusted with this important task. So it comes as no surprise to find Eliezer praying.

We can learn something from the simple prayers of this man. He had certain expectations. Don’t we all? “Show kindness to my master Abraham”……”By this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master”. He knew the Lord God was kind! Because God is kind, Eliezer expected God to give him direction and success in his mission. He watched the girl who had caught his eye as the potential bride, watching her closely. After all, a lot rested on his choice! He “watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful” (24:21).

When she passed the test, listen to Eliezer’s prayer: “Praise be to the Lord!” He recognized the Lordship of God. We might ask ‘what does it mean to you and to me, that Jesus is Lord of our lives’? As he bowed down, Eliezer praised God for His kindness and faithfulness, for His direction to the household of Abraham’s family (24:27).

Reflection:

What do we learn from Eliezer? He was a loyal, trustworthy servant. In fact, he was the chief servant in Abraham’s household, a position of honour! (24:2). When Abraham remained childless for nearly 100 years, he feared that his estate would have to go to Eliezer, a servant who had most likely been born in his own household (15:2). Eliezer was faithful to the task, because he was depending on God to hear his prayer.

Eliezer learned to trust the Lord implicitly and he was willing to give God the glory for the success of his mission.

What do we learn about God? He is faithful, provisional, and kind. He hears and answers our prayers. Eliezer believed Him to be worthy of all honour and praise.

by Marilyn Daniels (MarilynDaniels.net)

Devotional

The Splendour of His Holiness

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Psalm 96:9

Which scriptures teach you and me how to worship our Lord? Off the top, can you think of anything beyond the well-known verse penned by an unknown author? “Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (KJV). “Worship the Lord in the splendour of His holiness” (Psalm 96:9 NIV) Awesome! We worship Him because He is Holy.

What do we know about the holiness of God? We sing about it: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty” but what do we mean? Jesus said “I have come to do your will” (Matthew 26:39) and “By that will we are made holy [set apart*] through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ” (Hebrews 10:10).

There are many other words associated with God’s holiness. “Holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:3). One commentator notes: “God is supremely and exclusively God. He has no rivals. As uniquely excellent, He is His own category”. Samuel wrote “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one beside You” (1 Samuel 2:2). Apparently, the Bible calls God “the Holy One” over 50 times and calls the Spirit of God “the Holy Spirit” over 90 times. While God alone is holy [set apart*], there is a sense in which we humans also may be holy.

However, there are many temptations through life which would lure us away from the path of holiness. Peter knew that better than anyone. He warns his readers: “Just as He who called you is holy, be holy in all you do, for it is written ‘Be holy, because I am holy’ ” (Leviticus 11:44-45, 1 Peter 1:16). First of all we must be intentional.

We will never achieve the beauty of God’s holiness, but His example gives us something to strive for. We have the life of Christ revealed to us in God’s Holy Word. What might we take from this? Holy means to be set apart*. In the purity of His sinless life, Christ is indeed set apart. No other human has achieved the splendour of His perfect life. He has gone down through history as God’s Holy Son, God in a man’s body, pure and perfect.

How does this apply to you and me today? For one thing, God has given us instructions in moral purity to follow, in the Bible. We have been set apart to be different because the Holy Spirit lives in each believer, growing us into the likeness of our Lord Jesus, loving, joyful, peaceable, patient and kind…and the list goes on (Galatians 5:22). Christ is our hero in holiness!

Reflection:

Purity? Holiness? Is it fair that God sets before us what looks like an impossible task? Let me suggest it is only when we are inspired by the vision of His splendour, that we will strive to be more like Him! Have we seen Jesus in all of His glory, raised from the dead? If we take time to be holy, we will spend time in His presence, getting to know the God we say we worship. Regarding fairness we might ask: Do we long to suffer whatever life throws at us in the same spirit as He suffered all that He faced on the cross, and all that went before it?

Majesty! Worship His majesty! Unto Jesus be all glory, honour and praise!”

By Marilyn Daniels (MarilynDaniels.net)

Devotional

Teach Us to Pray

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Matthew 6:9-13 Luke 11:1-10

The disciples knew Jesus was a man of prayer. His fellowship with His Father was crucial to His ministry here on earth. They witnessed the power of many miracles happening after He prayed. One example is the feeding of the five thousand (John 6:11). And so – they asked Him to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1).

Matthew records a fuller version of what is known as “The Lord’s Prayer”. Many of us have memorized it and some repeat it regularly in church. It is rich in truth, beginning with the worship of our Father. For a thinking person, addressing God as Father raises some questions. How is it possible for us to know Him as Father? Does God really view me, personally, as His child and why?

Notice we are not taught to say “my Father” because corporate worship, worship within the family of God, is also foundational to our Christian faith. Paul reminds us of that. “ Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). So the first two words of the prayer draw upon the theme of our relationship with God!

God is in heaven, but in a remarkable way, His Spirit dwells within His children, here on earth. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). The Psalmist exclaims “ Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?” (Psalm 139:7) and goes on to remind us that God is everywhere.

Knowing this to be true, prayer then becomes a conversation with the One from whom we cannot escape. God knows more about us than we know about ourselves, so when we come to pray for others, He already knows more about their situation than we could possibly imagine. Prayer is the very great privilege of joining with God where He is already at work. This can be truly humbling. Sometimes folks view prayer as an exercise in power, but it really is a privilege.

So – to begin praying, Jesus taught us to recognize the God who longs to lavish His great love upon His children (1 John 3:1). Imagine communication with this One who is Holy! “Hallowed be Thy name” is how the King James version puts it. Prayer is all about God, relying on One who is beyond our understanding, yet who through the life of His Son, here on earth, has made Himself personal, as approachable as “Father”.

Luke puts it simply: “Father, hallowed be Your name” (Luke 11:2). How awestruck are you and I when we come to worship. Do our praises come from hearts longing to resemble this perfect deity? Do we want to live pure live in order to be like Him and to please Him? Is there a family resemblance between us and our Father?

Reflection:

Prayer is practiced by most people worldwide, sadly for a multitude of deities. For Christ followers, it is hugely important to recognize who it is we worship, and how. Jesus taught His followers to revere and honor the very name of God….that is what “hallowed” means. Job found contentment in renewed fellowship with God –“He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). All glory be to our Father for what He has planned for you and for me!

by Marilyn Daniels (MarilynDaniels.net)

Devotional

God’s Glory

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Psalm 104:1-4

As I write, we are still watching the glory of man in the coronation festivities of Britain’s King Charles III. What a spectacular celebration, golden coach and all! Yet there he was, dedicating himself to God as a servant of all. That was his mother’s prerogative too. Suddenly I was gripped with the urge to see what scripture tells us about the glory of God! From beginning to end we find references to God’s glory, by which comparison, man’s is very pale. Therefore, this devotional is going to be a real Bible Study.

In the beginning…Genesis tells us that in the creation process there was light long before our sun was created. The first thing God commanded was Light. Where did it come from? It was the light of God’s glory, also revealed in heaven where there is no need of sun or moon (Revelation 21:23).

We may have some misconceptions about God’s glory when we think in terms of light and darkness. In Genesis He separated the light from darkness, yet it was all part of His glory. We see an example of this when Moses went up the mountain to meet with God. We read “The cloud covered it [the mountain], and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai” (Exodus 24:16). TO the Israelites waiting for seven days below, “the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire” (Exodus 24:17).

God’s glory was seen in a cloud more than once; one time was when “the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting [where the Israelites worshiped], and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle!” In fact Moses couldn’t enter the Tent because ”the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle” (40:34-35).

However, God’s glory is not confined. “As surely as I live, and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, not one of the men who saw My glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt, and in the desert….” …and God went on to declare they would never see the promised land because of their sin of disbelief. There may be a lesson here – if we do not believe in Jesus, who performed so many miracles, even raising the dead, we will not see the “promised land”, which is heaven.

The glory of the Lord is revealed in His miracles. It is a visible reality. The disciples saw “the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). However, we must not take the glory of God for granted. It is, unfortunately, the lot of humankind to “fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). This leaves us in a desperate place if we are not revived by the Holy Spirit. We are all dead in sin, because of the sin nature we inherited from Adam, unless “God who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ” . Paul continued, in his letter to the Ephesians, to describe the glory of being seated with Him in heavenly places in order to show the riches of His grace [glory] (Ephesians 2:4-6).

Also God has given us a wonderful hope. He has revealed the great mystery which was hidden for generations, but now “disclosed to the saints” through Jesus Christ our Lord. This mystery Paul tells the Colossian church is made known among the Gentiles –“the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory!” (26-27).

Reflection:

Just imagine the fulfillment of our hope – that day when we will see the King of kings, seated upon His throne, in all of His glory!

by Marilyn Daniels (MarilynDaniels.net)

Devotional

My Tribute

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Hebrews 12:7-11

There is a beautiful song written in the twentieth century which begins “How can I say thanks for the things You have done for me – things so undeserved yet You gave to prove Your love for me”. Andrae Crouch was touched by a truth we often take for granted. We do not deserve God’s love, nor, as Dr. James Kennedy points out, can we earn it.

God desires to have a relationship with you and me and every human being that He has created, but He does leave the choice up to us, to accept the invitation He gives through Jesus Christ our Lord, to become part of His family. What a privilege it is to call God “Our Father”! What joy it brings to be loved unconditionally by our heavenly Father!

I was blessed to have an earthly father who also loved me unconditionally. Oh – he had to discipline me when I was growing up, but I knew I could trust him, when he followed through on consequences according to his warnings. So it is with our heavenly Father, who disciplines those He loves. “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons” (Hebrews 12:7). “If you are not disciplined….then you are illegitimate children and not true sons” (12:8). What an awesome thought!

In a world writing meaningless songs about empty love, we find folks seeking for proof, for the reality of true love, for something lasting. All this can be found in the love of our God! Think about the word “unconditional”. It means no matter what I do His love abides forever. Love is the essence of His character so God’s love cannot be anything but everlasting, because He is eternal!

“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1). The whole of Psalm 136 gives credit to the Lord for His position among the gods, for His understanding, creativity, fairness in judgment, leadership and protection, each verse based on the fact that “His love endures forever”!

His love doesn’t depend upon our response, like so much of human love, but rather – when the rich young ruler left Jesus without relinquishing his wealth in order to serve God, “Jesus looked at him and loved him” (Mark 10:21). Note this young man went away, no longer rich, but very poor, spiritually.

How wonderful it is for us to know the Bible assures us “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!” We are utterly dependent upon His righteousness, covering ours which looks like “Filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).

How often do we destroy relationships because we have unrealistic expectations? Perhaps the young ruler was deceived into thinking God needed him and his wealth. We must not forget we come to God empty-handed. He takes us and shapes us into something He can use for specific purposes (Isaiah 29:16, 45:9, 64:8).

Reflection:

Andrae went on to write: ”The voices of a thousand angels could not express my gratitude”. His response to God’s amazing grace was “All that I am or ever hope to be, I give it all to you. To God be the glory!”

Why don’t you journal the tribute you want to pay to God today?

by Marilyn Daniels (MarilynDaniels.net)

Devotional

Hosanna!

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Matthew 21:6-16

Hooray! Yeah! Hosanna! Exclamations of excitement and joy! Jesus was being celebrated as He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. “Hosanna” is Hebrew for save, an expression of praise.

Once a year we make a special effort to thank God for all that He has given to us; the date varies from culture to culture, but usually centres around harvest time. At Easter we sing praises for the sacrifice of Jesus’ life, but what did the people of Jerusalem know about Jesus that caused such accolades this particular year?

Israel lived under oppression. The nation desperately wanted a Saviour. This man from Galilee was a miracle-worker like no other. Could it be that God would use Him to save them from the Romans? Was this idea the impetus that created crowds crying out “Hosanna”?

Prophecy identified a king riding on a donkey into Jerusalem (Zechariah 9:9). As we have noted before, donkeys were not the usual mode of transport for kings, so this unusual event would attract attention! David prophesied “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Psalm 118:26) and Jesus Himself acknowledged His claim to be the “Son of David” (Mark 12:35). These folks acknowledged that link.

It often fascinates me how God orchestrates His work in this world. In Noah’s day sin was rampant. Why did He not send the Saviour then? Why did He flood the entire world, wiping out mankind except for Noah’s family? What was it about the era which spawned silence from Almighty God for 400 years, then caused Him to send His only begotten Son? What is God’s next step of judgment on a world who denies, rejects, mocks this precious Son?

Do you ever wonder what it would be like for Jesus to come riding into your world today? What would crowds of people say? Hosanna? Crucify Him? Actually He is riding into your world and mine, on the words of proclamation each believer has been given. Are we shouting Hosanna? Or do we keep silent?

Reflection:

Hosanna! Save! Cries from anxious hearts yearning to be free! What do we pray for today? What binds us like prisoners of fate? What would cause us to cry “Hosanna” “Save” to our neighbours, our colleagues at work, our family members – dearest and nearest?

by Marilyn Daniels (MarilynDaniels.net)

Uncategorized

The Sacrifice of Praise

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Psalm 100

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess His name” (Hebrews 13:11)

The Apostle Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Prior to that Jeremiah had also written about praise which he called “sounds of joy and gladness….thank offerings” to be brought into the house of the Lord. Kirk Dearman based a well loved chorus on Jeremiah 33:11:

“We bring the sacrifice of praise

Into the house of the Lord.

We bring the sacrifice of praise

Into the house of the Lord.

And we offer up to you

The sacrifices of thanksgiving;

And we offer up to you

The sacrifices of joy.”

Perhaps this is the panacea for the spirit of heaviness that pervades our world today. Can we, will we begin a habit that will stem the tide of depression? We have many Biblical examples of praise and worship which lift our spirits when we study the truths behind them.

“Shout for joy to the Lord” the Psalmist wrote. To whom does this apply? He answers “all the earth”.

“Worship the Lord with gladness” (Psalm 100:1-2). Do we find ourselves attending church out of a sense of obligation or duty? Has it become a tradition to meet with our friends on Sunday? Or have we gone to church anxious to offer praise? It may be a sacrifice. Perhaps we are grieving. Some of us are struggling with health issues or disappointed hopes, things that occupy the forefront of our minds. How can we think happy thoughts at such a moment?

The Apostle Paul is our great example. He sang hymns while bound in chains in a dank, dark prison cell. Perhaps he had memorized Psalm 100. “Come before Him [God] with joyful songs”. Hymns celebrate the great God we worship. Today many songs focus on “Me or I” but when we contemplate the character of our God, we are compelled to acknowledge His wisdom and majesty, His faithfulness and love. What joy to know that “our God is greater than any other god”! Yet “what a friend we have in Jesus” the One who bears all our sins and griefs!

The Psalmist warns “Know that the Lord is God” (100:4). Is there something lacking in our knowledge of God? How can we correct that? Another Psalm admits to needing God’s word – scripture memorization. “Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee” (Psalm 119:11 KJV). This is what enables us to “enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise” (100:4). After all “The Lord is good”. In a world torn by evil, hatred, fear and anger, we rejoice to know the goodness of our God, the One whose “love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations” (100:5).

Reflection:

It hardly seems to be a sacrifice to give praise to the God of heaven who is our personal Father, Shepherd and King. Let us sing His praises out of the abundance of joyful hearts, since we know God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

by Marilyn Daniels (MarilynDaniels.net)