Daily Nugget:
“Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.” Psalm 47:6-7
Much of the world is developing a disdain for Christianity. Looking at Christians the way the unsaved may see them, they may have a reason to believe as they do.
The lost see people who tout the name of Christ but see little difference between them and the supposedly “godly” people. They hear Christ-followers ridicule their church leaders, catch them complaining, question and doubt God’s Word and the principles it teaches, and they see believers live a life that is much like their own.
The unsaved world sees poor Christian examples. Dishonesty and perversion of church leaders are in media headlines. The lost often see the children of God begging for money and sometimes doing dishonest things to get it. They hear of the sin the “godly” commit and observe the disunity between bickering believers. No wonder reproach is upon the name “Christian.”
Those people seldom hear God being credited for the blessings He pours out on His people. Infrequently they have seen what they recognize as a genuine love for the Lord. Rarely have they heard how a converted sinner’s life is remarkably changed to produce an outstanding member of society. Few have never heard of God’s answering of prayers and the “impossible” miracles only His intervention could have caused.
Most of us can take some blame for their observations. We have not done as the psalmist’s hymn in Psalm 47 encourages. We have not shown our excitement of being a child of God (“… O clap your hands…) — Psalm 47:1. Instead, those people see the pooched lips and sad countenances of ungrateful believers.
The lost world needs to hear more from God’s children about all the wonderful things He does in their lives. It would change their attitudes and beliefs if others heard of our answered prayers, deliverance from dangers, fulfilled prayer requests, and His leadership in our lives. They need to listen to us “sing” His praises (Psalm 47:6-7). If we are verbal about what God is doing, He will be real to them because His goodness and greatness have been praised.
God is not dead! He is alive and working in lives. I talked to Him today and daily see what He has done in my life and others! The world needs to know that they are missing the biggest blessing of their lives without Him. They will then know their loss if believers praise Him for His goodness.
Today’s Thought:
“As a lost person, my tongue was quick with foul language. After being saved for a short time, God convicted me of my poor testimony for Him in that area. I purposed to replace curses with praises to Him. I may not be much, but daily those around me hear me praising His name! He is worthy to be praised!” — B. B.
Words to Understand:
Exalted: to elevate in power and authority
Sons of Korah: sons of Moses’ cousin, Korah, who were singers
Subdue: conquer, win over
Terrible: mighty and powerful that causes awe and respect
Today’s Reading:
Psalm 47
1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
2 For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
3 He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
4 He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
5 ¶ God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
9 The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.
