Weekend Words

From Be Still and Know...

"I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.  O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together." - Psalm 34:1-3

Many of the Psalms are filled with praise to God.  This Psalm is no exception.  Praise has been defined as, "the occupation of the soul with the blessings of God."

The psalmist's heart was filled with praise, but not because his life was easy.  He said, "I will praise the Lord NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.  I will constantly speak of his glories and grace" (Psalm 34:1, LB).  In fact, when he said, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous" (v. 19), he was speaking of that which was true of his own life.

David could praise God at a time when his life was in danger.  Although he had become a homeless exile, yet he could sing praises to God.

He said, "I will bless the Lord at ALL times, his praise shall CONTINUALLY be in my mouth."  It was not just praise in his heart, but praise on his lips.  It is easy to praise the Lord in days of prosperity, but David could praise Him in times of adversity.  He could praise the Lord in EVERY circumstance.  Such melodies of praise come from the lips of those whose hearts commune with God.

We, too, can join the choir of praise.  We can praise Him at all times, in all circumstances, on good days and bad days, in health and in sickness, in sad times and glad times.  Does this seem impossible to do?  As we allow Him, the Holy Spirit will produce such a heart of constant praise to God.

George Matheson was a blind preacher of Scotland.  One time, after he had become blind, he prayed, "My God, I have not thanked Thee for my thorn.  I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses.  Teach me the value of my thorn."

"O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together."

From Beside the Still Waters...

Gratitude

"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

In today's Bible reading there are three main characters.  First there is Simon, who hosted a meal at his house.  Then there is a sinful woman, who came to the meal uninvited.  Finally there is the Lord Jesus, who had been invited to the meal and told a parable.  The purpose of the parable was to explain the real reason why the host was rude and why the woman was so grateful.

The parable was brief, only two verses long (verses 41-42).  It pictured two men, both deeply in debt.  One man's debt was ten times as great as the other's.  But the amount didn't really matter, for both debtors were bankrupt.  Both were equal because neither had anything to pay.  Both could have been sold as slaves to satisfy their debt.  This would have been legally right for the lender.  Both debtors were in deep trouble.

But the lender was gracious and willingly forgave both debtors.  As a result, one debtor loved the creditor much and the other loved him little.  The same difference was evident in the woman's attitude and Simon's attitude.  The woman comprehended that she was helpless to pay her debt, but Simon hardly sensed that he had a debt.

The parable may be summarized in this way: Receiving forgiveness produces love, and love produces expressions of gratitude.  So if gratitude is an expression of love based on forgiveness, lack of gratitude must be a sign that love inspired by forgiveness is missing.  The woman's heart was simply overflowing with gratitude.  Is ours?  The woman was not ashamed to be associated with Jesus.  Are we?  The woman understood that having her debt forgiven involved a sacrifice.  Do we understand this?  The woman gave the best that she had.  Will we?

Jim Yoder - Riverton, WY