 The Biblical book of Psalms is the hymnbook of the Old Testament. It 150 songs address every sentiment and encompass a vast awry of events. It is the longest and most diverse of all the books of the Bible, culminating in Psalm 150, a primer (an an elementary and fundamental explanation) about the art of praise.
Psalm 150 begins with the exhortation, Praise the LORD! The first word declares the purpose of the Psalm: praise! Then it declares the Person worthy of our praise, the LORD! We are to praise Him in His sanctuary (on earth) and in the firmament of His power (in heaven), in other words praise Him everywhere. We praise Him for His mighty acts, giving thanks for all that He has done. We praise Him according to His excellent greatness, the quality of our praise. We praise Him for all that He is, His attributes, character and essence. It also addresses the quantity of our praise: we praise according to how great we think He is! We praise Him with musical instruments that we have created to amplify our praise, wind instruments, percussion instruments, stringed instruments. We even praise Him in our dance! The final verse proclaims, Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Humans are uniquely gifted with intellect, reason, will and choice. Our praise is made more precious to God because we offer it from our free will and choice. Praise the LORD!
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 Years ago, I read The Call of the Wild, about a dog named Buck who spends most of his life choosing between a miserable (but familiar) place, and a wonderful (but unknown) better place. So many people live their lives like Buck, feeling a call to more, but afraid to leave the threshold of the familiar. Even while living in misery, they cannot bring themselves to take that leap of faith when God calls.
Then there are the plus ultra people. In ancient legends, the mountains near the Strait of Gibraltar bore the inscription, “Non plus ultra” (nothing farther beyond), warning sailors that they had reached the end of the world. But at the end of the 15th century, explorers ventured into the untamed seas and set sail for places they were not sure even existed. They longed for the plus ultra, the further beyond. God calls us to leave thresholds, to venture plus ultra. He calls Abrahams to leave their fathers' inheritances, trusting in His provision. He calls Ruths to leave familiar homes and gain new and greater families. He calls Esthers to stand in the face of death and save nations. He calls Pauls to shine a light of hope in dark lands. Becoming a plus ultra person is not an easy, but it will always be worth it. You have to leave the familiar bondage of Egypt to taste Canaan’s freedom. God calls you to great things, to abundant freedom and new beginnings, but you have to decide to leave the familiar and take the leap. Your future awaits, beyond the threshold, plus ultra.  "When I could not reach mercy, mercy came running to me." (PCD)
I have been blessed with an old dog. I've had her since her puppy years, and she is a constant source of joy. When she was younger, she would run to the door as soon as I came home. She was never self-conscious. She didn't worry about whether or not I wanted to see her. She was overjoyed to see me. Now she is 21, and, while she is still thrilled to see me, it's a different experience. Her joints ache and there's a little less pep in her step. Sometimes she makes it to the door, walking gingerly, but just as happy I'm home. Sometimes, though, her little legs are just too tired and she sits on the couch, waiting for me to come to her. And I always do. I loved her when she was strong and I love her every bit as much when she is weak. I just love to spend time with her. Hebrews 4:16 gives us instructions on how to approach God: we can come boldly before Him. Sometimes I do, since I am just so excited to spend time with Him. But then there are other situations, moments when I am weak and hurting. I want to come before Him, but I am so weighed down with the cares of life that I feel I don't have the strength. But I am so glad for Hebrews 4:15, which reminds me that God is "touched with the feeling of [my] infirmities" -- He loves me even when I am weak. Like the beautiful song says, when I could not reach Him, He came running to me. When I am weak, He reaches for me, and in Him I become strong once again.  Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
The first principle of faith begins with the acceptance that God truly does exist, The Bible begins with this principle, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” It is a simple declaration that begs belief and is the foundation for faith in God and His Word. Next, God rewards those who diligently seek Him. Diligence is key: it's a focused act of sincerity and consistency. Our greatest reward in the precious relationship that we develop with God and then God’s continual providence for all of our needs. Romans 10:17 teaches that we receive faith by hearing the written or spoken word of God. Our faith is expressed through our obedience and actions. Hebrews 11 offers many examples: Noah built an ark and saved his family. Abraham sojourned in the Promised Land and preserved a homeland for his descendants. Joshua marched around Jericho and walls fell down. They expressed their faith through obedience and actions. Personal salvation also comes by faith and obedience to the Word. Acts 2 records the birth of the church. In verse 37, people ask what to do to be saved, and Peter tells them: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” So, we express our saving faith through repentance, baptism in Jesus' name, and receiving the Holy Ghost. Believe and receive it in Jesus’ name! |
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