Relating to God one-to-one is so effortless: the intimacy, the security in being vulnerable with One who knows you so well. God is the archetype of parenting, who never let’s us feel that any one of us is more loved or the favourite above the other. How could we, right?
But have you ever used that same vigour and deep-soul gratitude of thanksgiving to God for the people among whom He has placed you? Should we? Why?
All this week the Psalms have spoken of God’s faithfulness and promises to His peoples: –
The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;
The world and all its fullness, You have founded them. Ps 89:11
He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct,
He who teaches man knowledge? Ps 94:10
Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Ps 96:1-2
The Lord reigns;
Let the earth rejoice;
Let the multitude of isles be glad! Ps 97:1
The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples see His glory. Ps 97:6
The Lord has made known His salvation;
His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. Ps 98:2
The Lord reigns;
Let the peoples tremble!
He dwells between the cherubim;
Let the earth be moved! Ps 99:1
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Ps 100:1
We must give thanks for the salvation of our nations. To look back to advance forward and declare to the Lord we have hope in Your salvation of our nations, and keep declaring it from generation to generation. There isn’t a nation whose history is not filled with atrocities, neither is there one whose ‘today’ does not make its people think that they are paying the price for it.
It is time we offered up songs of praise for the land of our birth, the land of our ancestry, the land of our residency. What are we learning as we’re reading that we can apply in our lives?
We, who have answered His call, make a joyful shout in your land – for your land.
Let each of us in whatever our present circumstance or role serve the Lord with gladness. It is for Him and to give Him glory. So we should sing for joy in our hearts at the opportunity for Him to use us.
We will only get to know a person if we make a concerted effort of pursuit, therefore seek God; our lives depends on it.
Every time we go to Him, be thankful.
He is God. At some point, like these Psalmists, we must move from seeing only what is not right in the world to asking of God the right questions. Reflect on Ps 100:5, that’s our simplest truth to tell.
For every act of injustice, God has raised an army of servants to rebuild. For every shameful past, there is a victorious future to tell generations until all the earth shall enter His courts with praise.
The LA Family