We praise what we love, and what we esteem to have value, what we enjoy. Whether a good meal, a college team, a lover, a hero, a child-it is natural to sing the praises of that which we value. CS Lewis writes:
I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are, the delight is incomplete till it is expressed. (Reflections on the Psalms)
Praise both expresses our delight and completes our delight. It is a demonstration of love towards the object of praise, and an invitation for others around to join with you in this delight. And sharing in the object of praise is yet another demonstration of your love for those you share with-to taste a bite of your cake because of it’s richness, to borrow a CD because it moves you, to invite others to meet your friend because you so enjoy his presence. We both long for those we love to experience and share in the joy we’ve found in this object, as well as to join with you to attribute value and praise out of love for this object. And so it is with God.
a worthy object
Were I to tell you that you should praise God, most of you if not all would agree. This is a good and right thing to, but little of knowing that you “should” do anything is terribly motivating. In fact, often in my own rebellious heart, if I am told i should do something, I am much more apt to not. True praise erupts from a heart overwhelmed by love. And true love is never derived out of a sense of duty, but out of delight. Praise for God will naturally flow out of a heart in love with God.
And we love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:191 John 4:19
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
19 We love because God loved us first.
WP-Bible plugin). He loved us and gave Himself up for us (Ephesians 5:2,25Ephesians 5:2,25
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
2 ; . Let love be your guide. Christ loved us j us: Some manuscripts have “you.” and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God.
25 . A husband should love his wife as much as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.
WP-Bible plugin), that nothing might separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39Romans 8:35-39
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
35 Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death?
36 . It is exactly as the Scriptures say,
“For you we face death
all day long.
We are like sheep
on their way
to be butchered.”
37 In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us.
38 I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future,
39 and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!
WP-Bible plugin). Piper explains that if God is love, and He loves perfectly, then the greatest act of love would be to give to us that which is most fulfilling. He writes:
In view of God’s infinitely admirable beauty and power and wisdom what would his love to a creature involve? Or to put it another way: What could God give us to enjoy that would show him most loving? There is only one possible answer, isn’t there? HIMSELF! If God would give us the best, the most satisfying, that is, if he would love us perfectly, he must offer us no less than himself for our contemplation and fellowship. (sermon: Is God for us or for Himself?)
We are greatly loved despite ourselves, not because of ourselves! And because of this God is worthy of our love, worthy of all our praise, worthy of our lives.
a right response
As Christ entered Jerusalem for the last time, his followers laid their robes at his feet, they cried out His praise declaring the glory of the coming King. When the Pharisees demanded Jesus quiet them, He proclaimed that were they to be silent the very stones would cry out His praise (Luke 19). David writes that the heavens declare the glory of the Lord (Psalm 19:1Psalm 19:1
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
The Wonders of God and the Goodness of His Law
19
1 The heavens keep telling
the wonders of God,
and the skies declare
what he has done.
WP-Bible plugin). Creation boldly and unashamedly reveals God’s glory, displaying His great power, His beauty, creativity, and wisdom, simply by being what it is created to be. We are no different. If we are obedient to do what the Lord has called us to do, He is revealed and glorified. He is glorified in your personality that He has specifically designed, in the gifts He has bestowed on you, in the dreams and calling He has laid on your heart–all are meant to glorify and reveal Him to others. He is made great as our lives are transformed and we live out our faith expressing itself in love. A right response to His love involves a life that reflects His love, provoking praise in your own heart and in others’.
But taking it a step further, a right response involves attributing the changes in your life, attributing the glory to Him. We have become far to quiet in our faith. St. Francis is quoted as saying “preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words”, emphasizing that we must not proclaim the gospel and turn away like hypocrites and fail to live it out, fail to love those who are hard to love, to give generously to those in need, to live selflessly. However, with the climate of our culture today, we have become far too silent. It is much more politically correct to keep your faith to yourself and not make those around you uncomfortable. It is easier to avoid certain topics, or to brush away questions, than it is to talk about God as if He were real to an atheist. And while I am in no way encouraging street corner preaching, I am encouraging praise both in the way we live and with our voices, in and outside of church. May we be unafraid to be viewed as fools by the world, as long as we are known as fools who love because of God. May the rocks not have to cry out.
a step further…
Read Ephesians 2:1-10Ephesians 2:1-10
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
From Death to Life
2
1 . In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God.
2 You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn't obey God.
3 Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else.
4-5 But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God's wonderful kindness is what saves you.
6 God raised us from death to life with Christ Jesus, and he has given us a place beside Christ in heaven.
7 God did this so that in the future world he could show how truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done.
8 You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. e treats us much better than we deserve: The Greek word charis, traditionally rendered “grace,” is translated here and other places in the CEV to express the overwhelming kindness of God. This is God's gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own.
9 It isn't something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.
10 God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That's why he sent Christ to make us what we are.
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v. 1-3
- What is the tone in these first 3 verses? What words stick out to you? What is their connotation?
- What does Paul want us to understand about our state prior to God’s intervention?
- v. 4-7. There is a major shift in tone here. What or Who causes this shift? What is the tone following this shift?
- Verses 4-7 describe God rescuing us from our former life (v. 1-3). What was God’s motive in rescuing us?
- What do these verses teach us about the nature of God and Christ?
- In verses 8 and 9 what role do grace and faith play in our salvation? Must we do anything?
- In this passage what does God do and what do we do? What changes in our life as the passage progresses?
- How is the term “works” used in v. 9 and 10? What is the significance of this difference?
- This passage was written to believers. Paul reminds us of our former state partly to warn us of living as dead though we are now alive. Why are you tempted to live as though you were still dead?
- Even in our salvation we may be tempted to boast in ourselves, seeking glory for that which we did not accomplish. In what ways are you tempted to steal God’s glory? (v. 8-9)
- Why did Paul go to great lengths to describe our depravity (v.1-3)? (Hint: see also Luke 7:36-47Luke 7:36-47
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
Simon the Pharisee 36 A Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him. So Jesus went to the Pharisee's home and got ready to eat. r got ready to eat: On special occasions the Jewish people often followed the Greek and Roman custom of lying down on their left side and leaning on their left elbow, while eating with their right hand. This is how the woman could come up behind Jesus and wash his feet . 37 ; ; . When a sinful woman in that town found out that Jesus was there, she bought an expensive bottle of perfume. 38 Then she came and stood behind Jesus. She cried and started washing his feet with her tears and drying them with her hair. The woman kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them. 39 The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and said to himself, “If this man really were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him! He would know that she is a sinner.” 40 Jesus said to the Pharisee, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher, what is it?” Simon replied. 41 Jesus told him, “Two people were in debt to a moneylender. One of them owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty. 42 Since neither of them could pay him back, the moneylender said that they didn't have to pay him anything. Which one of them will like him more?” 43 Simon answered, “I suppose it would be the one who had owed more and didn't have to pay it back.” “You are right,” Jesus said. 44 He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Have you noticed this woman? When I came into your home, you didn't give me any water so I could wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You didn't greet me with a kiss, but from the time I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You didn't even pour olive oil on my head, s washed my feet ... greet me with a kiss ... pour olive oil on my head: Guests in a home were usually offered water so they could wash their feet, because most people either went barefoot or wore sandals and would come in the house with very dusty feet. Guests were also greeted with a kiss on the cheek, and special ones often had sweet-smelling olive oil poured on their head. but she has poured expensive perfume on my feet. 47 So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love.”
WP-Bible plugin). With this in mind, what is your heart’s response to God?
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