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Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with
gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are
his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give
thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness
continues through all generations. (Psalm 100)
Don't you wish that sometimes you could worship God the way they write
about in the Psalms? You know -- all the shouting and the singing and
the dancing that comes from a genuine heart as opposed to some kind of
showy performance? There are clues here in this psalm as to what makes
it possible.
1. First, you must know God. (okay, that one was obvious)
2. Second, remember that he made you. He likes you enough to have
brought you into existence.
3. Third, He has purchased you. You are His, bought from the evil one
with Jesus’ own precious blood. He has done this because He loves you.
4. Fourth, recall all the ways He has led you, taken care of you, and
protected you like a shepherd.
5. Fifth, thank Him for all He has given you -- life, health, family,
church, friends, job, intelligence, talents, wisdom, abilities,
challenges, etc.
6. Sixth, praise Him for who He is and what He is like -- His goodness,
integrity, kindness, gentleness, patience, kindness, omnipotence,
omniscience, omnipresence, etc.
7. And why should you do all this? Because He loves you, and those who
will come after you, forever and ever!
Worshipping with gladness is what is being prescribed for our sin-sick
souls here. Obviously, it is possible to worship God in sadness as well,
but this psalm addresses the flip side.
Even though I'm not a formula-type guy, hope this helps.
-Mike
eDevotions written by Mike Sares. © 2005. |
