Your Daily Devotional for June 11, 2006
June 11, 2006
The Reason We Sing
by Dr. Paul Chappell
Psalm 95:1-2
As we reflect upon this verse, let’s first realize that the beginning of spiritual decay in any society is the attribute of unthankfulness. Paul spoke of the first century Gentile world saying, “…when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:21). They had no consciousness of God and no joy in their hearts.
This attribute of unthankfulness is prevalent in our society today and can be expected to be even more pervasive in the last days. Paul admonishes Timothy saying, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy” (2 Timothy 3:1-2).
Though the lack of gratitude in our society can be expected by those without Christ, unfortunately, even God’s people have forgotten the Lord. Jeremiah rebukes the nation of Israel as he speaks as the prophet of God in Jeremiah 2:32, “Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.” It seems that the days on our calendar can go by so swiftly that we forget to stop and give thanks to God.
How many days have gone by since you have taken some much needful time to be still, meditate, and know that He is God? “For days without number,” God says, “you have forgotten me.” God’s people have forgotten to read His Word; they have forgotten to worship in His house; they have forgotten to labor in His fields. They have been unthankful.
What can we find for which to be thankful? As the psalmist sings praise to God in this passage, he was singing to the rock of our salvation. We can be thankful for God’s redemptive work. The Lord is the rock of our salvation. 1 Corinthians 15:57 says, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” God’s grace is a gift that Paul calls “unspeakable” in 2 Corinthians 9:15.
Not only has He saved us, but He has given us a relationship with Him. Psalm 95:7 says, “…he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.” If the Great Shepherd is your Saviour, then notice the word our. God is our God. He is your God, and you can have a relationship with him personally. Jesus said, in John 15:15, “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends.” He has not only redeemed you from your sin but he wants a relationship with you in an abiding and daily walk with Him.
I will never forget back in 1994, Dr. Curtis Hutson, a dear preacher friend of mine, was preaching his last message. I flew to the state of North Carolina to attend a pastors’ meeting and to hear Dr. Hutson’s last message. In the time of his health, he was a strong and physical man. He was a power weight lifting champion in the state of Georgia. Yet, as the cancer filled his body, he became very weak, and as a man of only 80 pounds, he was holding on to the pulpit, preaching Jesus Christ.
At the end of that message, he spontaneously began to sing a song that I had never heard until that night. The words to that song were: “I am on the winning side, yes, I’m on the winning side. No more out in sin, will I abide. I’ve enlisted in the fight, for the cause of truth and right. Praise the Lord! I’m on the winning side.”
Someone might have looked at Dr. Hutson and wondered in amazement as he sang to the Lord: “What reason has this man to sing? What does he have to be thankful for?” I believe Dr. Hutson would answer as the psalmist did, “Because Jesus is the rock of my salvation and He has given me a home in Heaven.”
Dr. Hutson knew the joy of salvation and he lived his life telling others about it. As God looks down upon His people today, will He say, “Days without number, my people have forgotten me”? If you have a reason to sing (if you’re saved, you do!), don’t wait any longer. Stop. Be still, and take a few moments to praise God for His excellent greatness!
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posted by Joe @ 2:00 AM
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