Morning By Morning #274

Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!

Psalm 66:2

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

Whether to praise God is not an option we determine. Praise is the Lord’s most rightful entitlement, and every Christian as a recipient of His grace is obligated to praise God day after day. Although it is true there is no authoritative legal requirement demanding our praise, and no commandment prescribing certain times each day for songs and thanksgiving, the law written on our hearts teaches us it is the right thing to do. And that mandate comes to us with as much force as though it had been written on tablets of stone and handed to us from the top of a thundering Mount Sinai.

Yes, it is a Christian’s duty to praise God. It is not just a pleasurable exercise but is the absolute obligation of life. And if you think you are exempt from praising because of numerous times of mourning in your life, think again. You cannot fulfill your duty to your God without songs of praise. By the bonds of His love you are obligated to bless His name as long as you live, and “his praise [should] always be on [your] lips” (Ps. 34:1). You are blessed in order for you to bless Him—”The people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise” (Isa. 43:21). If you do not praise God, you are not bringing forth the fruit that He, as the Divine Gardener, has a right to expect.

Do not allow your harp to hang silently from the weeping willows (see Ps. 137:2), but take it down and, with a grateful heart, do your best to make beautiful music. Arise and sing His praise as each morning dawns, lifting up your notes of thanksgiving. And may your songs follow each day’s setting sun as well. Encircle the earth with your praises, surrounding it with an atmosphere of melody, and God Himself will hear from heaven and will accept your music.

E’en so I love You, and will love,

And in Your praise will sing,

Because You are my loving God,

And my redeeming King.

Francis Xavier, 1506 – 1552

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

It has often been said that we had better get used to praising the Lord here because we will be doing plenty of it in heaven. Although this is a true statement, it makes it seem as though lifting praise to God is a hardship or an unpleasant burden. Yet what John saw as he looked into heaven did not seem burdensome to those around God’s throne. May the fact that God is worthy of our praise be our watchword today!

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Revelation 5:11-14