Good day dear friends. Happy Friday to everyone!
Our text for today is Psalm 98: 1 Sing to God a brand-new song. He's made a world of wonders! He rolled up his sleeves, He set things right. 2 God made history with salvation, He showed the world what he could do. 3 He remembered to love us, a bonus To his dear family, Israel - indefatigable love. The whole earth comes to attention. Look - God's work of salvation! 4 Shout your praises to God, everybody! Let loose and sing! Strike up the band! 5 Round up an orchestra to play for God, Add on a hundred-voice choir. 6 Feature trumpets and big trombones, Fill the air with praises to King God. 7 Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause, With everything living on earth joining in. 8 Let ocean breakers call out, "Encore!" And mountains harmonize the finale - 9 A tribute to God when he comes, When he comes to set the earth right. He'll straighten out the whole world, He'll put the world right, and everyone in it. (The Message)
Did our singing praises to God end with our denomination's General Conference? To hear some people tell it, it did. That's telling about how much confidence we put in a group of a thousand delegates from around the world to agree on our differences. It was just a meeting on steroids. Our faith in God should still be as strong and steadfast as ever. The Psalmist is one who saw many things that almost took him to his death and certainly to his ruin, yet he sang on. This psalm is but another example of his faith and confidence in God. In this version, the image is to involve all of creation in the praise of God. God has, will, and is showing what God can do in all things. We just have to watch and believe. Among the greatest things that God does, is that God loves us! Yes, that's right, you and me, loved by God. We may not deserve it according to our limited thinking, but still, God loves us. If God were to do nothing else between now and the end of time to have been loved by God would be sufficient. And the least we can do? Love God back! Sing love songs to God and join in with all creation as we sing together, "God is love and God merits our praise!"
When you walk outside today, yes, you'll have to turn off your computer or at least walk away from it. Look around and see what praise is already going on around you. Here, the earth is singing because of last night's rain. The trees are clapping their praise to God for all that God has done for us. The birds are singing and water in the oceans, bays, lakes, creeks and rivers, are also praising God.
Praise God! God loves you!
PRAYER: Loving God, I may not have much of a voice when it comes to singing, but I can make a joyful noise! Receive my love through my praise as I join heaven and nature singing about Your love for me. Thank You, and praise You! I praise You in Jesus' precious name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
