“1I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. 2Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.” – Psalm 145:1-2 (ESV)
It is pretty clear that David had high praise and glorified God at every turn.
Are we? What in our lives is preventing us from extolling God? Will you extol God forever?
“1I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. 2O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. 3O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down wot the pit.” – Psalm 30:1-3 (ESV)
God is working in our lives and we are to be lifting high praise for that work. He has delivered us with salvation and for that alone, we should be in continuous praise of Him.
When you look back, what has God done that you should extol Him for? Did you recognize then? Will you extol God for what He has done for you?
“24Remember to extol his work, of which men have sung.” – Job 36:24 (ESV)
Extol: “to praise highly: GLORIFY” – Merriam-Webster Online
How often do we find ourselves learning new words? I have seen and read the word extol of course in my study of God’s Word, but have not really looked to learn the word. To praise highly is bigger than I thought before.
God does work each day in our lives. He is doing for us all the time. He is greater than we can even imagine.
“26Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable.” – Job 36:26 (ESV)
I can continue each day working to get to know Him, but will continuously fall short of understanding. But I must continue to learn of my God and press for more and more understanding so that I can truly extol Him.
Where are you in your understanding of God? Are you continuing to work on it? Are you looking each day to extol the work of God?
“10For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.” – Hebrews 6:10 (ESV)
The work we do for God certainly does not go unnoticed. I struggle with this one each day. Here in the world, I feel like I am doing the work of God to the best I know how. I demonstrate love, and have a vision and values that are centered on the work of God.
Do I miss the mark? OH YES, every day! Do I struggle? OH YES, every day!
What Now?
Based on God’s Word, I have to keep on keeping on. God knows the work we do. No one else may notice, but God does and in Him is where we should be concerned. We have to hang our hat on the promises of God and not on those of man. Striving to continue doing His work and not our own.
“11And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” – Hebrews 6:11-12 (ESV)
Where is your focus? What prize are you looking at? Who is most important for you to make an impression on? Are you aware and leaning on that God knows the work you do?
“16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” – 2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)
The first seven (7) words are the ones that grabbed me this morning, “All Scripture is breathed out by God”. Not just a few well know passages that are popular, but “All Scripture”.
I believe that too often we spend our time reading and re-reading the passages we know, or have heard, or someone has told us about. Why will we not find out for ourselves and do our own due diligence to study the Word of God?
We should be immersed in the Word of God to get and understand the teachings of God. The send part of the verse above indicates that God’s Word is for “teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness”. Each of those require work and I am sure that most of us have heard the phrase “anything worth having is worth working for”.
When we work for something that something is satisfying and brings more than just knowledge. We have gained experience and understanding that we can now pass on to others.
“17that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:17 (ESV)
We gain from the Word of God that we may pass that gain on in our work for God. We get to use the knowledge, understanding, and experience we obtained through our study of God’s Word to enhance the lives, knowledge, understanding, and experience of those around us.
What time are you spending with God’s Word? Are you sticking to the familiar, or getting into the parts you have not explored before? Are you allowing “All Scripture” to inspire and drive your work for God?
“15So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. 16Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 (ESV)
Paul reminds us here that we have everything we need as Christians. We have all the teachings, love, grace, and hope from Jesus and God. We are to take comfort and establish our hearts with those and do the work of God.
We are going to have adversity and our job is to “stand firm” and do the work. Stay true to the teachings of God and know the work for Christ is the important work and everything else is cursory and of much lessor value. The value of the work put on by others is not important. When we are doing the work of God, our value is in him, “who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace.”
When you are doing the work of Christ, are you looking around at what others see or think? Are you just doing the work of God? Are you standing firm in that work?
“13And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (ESV)
These words of Paul to the church at Thessalonica are true even today. We have heard the Word of God and we have the chance to accept it either as words of the men saying them or as the Word of God being spread by man. God’s Word does not get to us generally on its own.
I know someone that was not following the Word of God and in fact could not, until someone exclaimed the love of Christ to them. Once that love was shared, they were able to read the Word of God and has been living them ever since.
Once we have been given the Word of God it should be difficult to put down. And because of our dedication to the Word, we will continue with the work of God in obedience to God.
When you are in the Word of God, are you able to put it down? Are you able to use the Word of God in your work? Is the Word of God continually at work in you?
“22Slaves, obey in everything those who are you earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” – Colossians 3:22-24 (ESV)
We work for Christ and that is where our focus should be. Not to please the boss, not to look good in the sight of others, but for Christ alone and our inheritance in heaven.
Verse 23 above even says we should “work heartily”. We should be giving it our all. Not trying to get by, but giving our all. When our work is done, we should be proud of the effort we gave and we should move on to our next task and “work heartily” at that.
I know that I get bogged down in that last sentence and just want to recuperate after giving it everything. But isn’t that what the “Sabbath” is for? I have to remember that I should be working hard for Christ at every turn for the 6 days and then celebrating, worshipping, resting, relaxing, and recuperating on Sunday in fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
What about you, are you working to please others? Are you working heartily? What does you post work look like, on to the next task for Christ? Are you doing all work as if for Christ Himself?
True integrity is what you do when no one is watching. And with that is/should be a level of fear and want.
“12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14Do all things without grumbling or questioning,” – Philippians 2:12-14 (ESV)
When reading the above passage, I am taken to the things that I have learned in business. To have integrity in all that I do, as well as be aware of the consequences and want to do well.
It is easy to let things go when no one is watching. But what happens when we are called into the office and shown the video of our actions. Amazing how we become sheepish and defensive, all because we got caught. Now think about it, God is always watching.
Paul was not around at this time for the Philippians and he is reminding them that just because he was not around, did not mean that they were able to slack off in their work for Christ. In fact, they had to bear down and seek the will of God who placed it on their heart.
When you are out working for Christ, are you aware of those that are not there watching? What actions are you taking? Are you demonstrating integrity, fear, and want in that work?
Look around your house. See that project in the garage that is unfinished. Remember that study you were working on but put down.
“6And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
God finishes His project, you. I sometimes forget this part. I know that God is with me always and will guide me through this life, but I forget that He is still working on my each day. I am His project. He has not neglected me. He has not abandoned me for some other “more important” project. He is still working on me.
As I study this morning I realize that God has given me tasks to complete and once I have completed those, He will reveal Himself to me to set me toward the next item on His to-do-list for me. God is the ever present coach that gives instruction and then allows us to do the work for our own sake. We are learning and growing in Him.
It is up to us to dive in and do the work. We have to study God’s Word to discern what is next. We are to look to Him for our next assignment. We are work to completion and know that God completes everything.
Where are you today? What tasks for God have you maybe walked away from? Are you aware and embracing that God finishes His work, you?
Trevor's Thoughts 