Friday, August 29, 2014

So That All May Know

One of the joys of following Jesus is the sense of adventure that each day brings.  All conversations present opportunities to share the love of Christ. 
All interactions give us the chance to point others to Jesus.  Our lives are "on mission" for the glory of God!  

As I was reading through Psalm 145 recently, I was struck by a phrase that occurs near the middle of the psalm: so that all people may know (v.12).  The context of this phrase is praise.  We praise and worship God because He alone is worthy of our praise, but as a byproduct of our worship (offering our bodies and lives to Christ as "living sacrifices") other people get to hear and see how great our God is.
There is an evangelism component to our worship.  King David put it this way: 

Your faithful people extol you.  They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.  (Psalm 145:10-12)     

I believe Psalm 145 offers us three "check-up" questions we can ask ourselves on a regular basis in order to help us live out the mission "so that all may know."  These questions will help us keep our focus on praising the Lord and living out His mission in the world.

Question #1: What is my daily plan to worship God and spend time alone in His presence? 

Do you have an intentional plan to spend time daily in God's Word and hear from Him?  
Psalm 145:2 says, "Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever."  
Notice that David had established a daily rhythm in his worship life.  He was disciplined in cultivating a heart for God.  When we neglect God's Word, we experience a powerless spiritual life and a decreased passion for God.  Without the Word, we lose our witness. 
Just as football players have been going through strict training to prepare for the upcoming season, so disciples of Jesus should be daily trained in God's game plan by meditating on scripture.  

Question #2: How am I commending God's works to another generation?   

Psalm 145:3-4 says, "Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.  One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts."  We need to be intentional about training the younger generation in the ways of the Lord.  In the Old Testament, the people of Israel were instructed to "impress" God's commandments on the hearts of their children.  They were to "talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up" (see Deut. 6:4-7).  

Parents, are we living in such a way that our children can see our love for the Lord?  Are we taking advantage of the time we have with them by repeatedly talking to them about the greatness of Jesus and the privilege of serving him?  Grandparents, are you making intentional spiritual investments in the lives of your grandchildren?  

Question #3: What aspect of God's character do I especially need to trust in TODAY"so that all may know"?      

Psalm 145 lists many aspects of God's character.  Take a look at this list!

The Lord is....

gracious
compassionate
slow to anger
rich in love
good to all
mighty
provider
always "on time"
righteous in all His ways
near to those who call on Him
attentive to our cries
Savior
Judge
holy

Maybe you are going through a time in your life that is making it difficult for you to see one of these aspects of God's character.  Perhaps you are beginning to doubt that God will truly provide for the needs of your family.  Or, maybe you don't feel like the Lord has been attentive to your cries.  Let me encourage you to take a few minutes to read Psalm 145 in its entirety and then offer up this simple prayer: 

"Lord, help me to trust that You are ___________________" 

(fill in the aspect of God's character you are having the most difficulty trusting)

As your trust in God's complete character is increased and strengthened, you will be able to confidently proclaim the greatness of God to those around you....so that all may know! 

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So That All May Know

One of the joys of following Jesus is the sense of adventure that each day brings.  All conversations present opportunities to share the lo...