It seems pretty easy to waffle devotion from one side to another, or from one group to the other. I have witnessed the fickle approach to commitment in an effort to “not offend” or be “inclusive” of any and all.

“²¹You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.” — 1 Corinthians 10:21 (ESV)

When we are dealing with the LORD, it is not a good idea to waffle, and frankly we are either on one side or the other, for Him or against Him. I am not saying that I should not be among the other, but I have to certainly be careful to know where my devotion is to remain and what my role in this world is. Even Jesus spent time with the tax collectors and those that were unbelievers. His time with them was in the interest of love for them and to bring them the living water that they were missing.

As I am in this world, I have to remember where my devotion is and remain in the work that God has given me. When I do, I will be rewarded when my time has come. I have to not put the LORD to the test, as He will deal with me.

“²²Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? ⁹We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, ¹⁰nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.” — 1 Corinthians 10:22 & 9-10 (ESV)

I am devoted to the LORD. I am His and He is mine. I have to remember that my role is to go wherever He would have me go and do whatever He would have me do.

“⁵I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” — John 15:5 (ESV)

Where are you devoted? Are you waffling from one to the other to to “not offend” or be “inclusive”? What if you were to choose the LORD and not test your devotion to Him?

I have a saying that I use often; “Focus on getting it right, not just getting it done”. I believe that the quality of the work is as, if not more, important than the quantity of the work. I have the opportunity to blow through the work and a fever pace to get more work done and where that may show the dedication to getting tasks completed, the quality of the work may suffer at the hand of speed.

Paul explains to the Corinthians about this very thing in chapter 3 of his 1^st letter.

“¹²Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— ¹³each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.” — 1 Corinthians 3:12-13 (ESV)

Here Paul is indicating that work can be done in many different ways and with many different materials. Once the work is completed and each were to be given the same test, the quality of that work would be revealed. It is in the test of the work and the results that show what is really there.

We are not the result of our work, it is the quality of the work that is revealed and that can be improved upon if it indeed is lacking. Notice the words of Paul in the next two verses, especially in the end of verse 15 below.

“¹⁴If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” — 1 Corinthians 3:14-15 (ESV)

The reward and or loss are that of the work, not that of the individual. We are of what we are and we are certainly worth the work God puts into us. He builds with only the best quality and we are of that quality. It is in the test that our work is revealed, but the work only, as we are of God and cherished by Him.

“¹⁶Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” — 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (ESV)

What kind of work are you producing? Are you working to only get things done? What if you worked to get it right as God did with you, what would that reveal through the tests?

I believe that there is a lack of self-reflection and action in the wake of that reflection in the world today. I see it in all sorts of environments; work, school, social, and many others. And where I believe it to be in the world today, the reality is that it has been in the world since the beginning. The people seem to walk through life waiting to be told what is next for them and how to perform whatever it is that is next. Unless told, there is little to no action moving forward or engaging in change.

“⁴⁰Let us test and examine our ways,

and return to the LORD!” — Lamentations 3:40 (ESV)

Here I see that self-reflection, examination, and testing are all part of returning to, and more importantly, remaining in the LORD. It is in our review of what was that we are able to understand and move forward with what will be.

Lori is a World Cultures and History teacher at the middle school level and is always reminding me of the importance of the past and understanding of it to ensure that we do not make the same mistakes as we move forward. It is in those lessons from Lori and the past that I am able to remember and move forward with change, not only in my own life, but in the world around me as well. I take my learnings from what happened and bring it forward to impact the now and future.

This learning from what happened is vital to the self-reflection and examination needed in my ensuring that I return to and remain in the LORD. I have to test what I know against what is known and remember that the LORD is always and never ceasing.

“²²The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

²³they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

^24’The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul,

‘therefore I will hope in him.’” — Lamentations 3:22-24 (ESV)

It is in the test against what I know that I am able to find the truth. I have to remember to engage in the self-reflection and examination to “understand” things as opposed to simply “receive” things. It is in that understanding that I am able to truly believe and return to the LORD and remain in Him throughout the duration of my time.

What does your self-reflection look like and reveal? Are you even taking part in testing and examination of yourself? What if you were to test and examine against what you know with the goal of returning to and remaining in the LORD?

I wrote about not testing God, now I write about asking for the test. I am continuing my study this morning on the word “test” and have come to Psalm 26 which in my bible is titled “I will bless the LORD”. Verses 1 – 3 are of David giving everything of himself to the LORD to demonstrate his devotion.

“¹Vindicate me, O LORD,

for I have walked in my integrity,

and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

²Prove me, O LORD, and try me;

test my heart and my mind.

³For your steadfast love is before my eyes,

and I walk in your faithfulness.” — Psalm 26:1-3 ESV

When I see these verses, I see a man that have fully given himself to the LORD. I see a man that is so devoted, anything brought to him will be seen as a way to show that devotion. Even to the point of asking to be tested. I see someone standing and asking for more to prove that there is full submission to the work and glory of God.

I have to ask myself if this is indeed how I approach the LORD. Am I so devoted that I am comfortable with asking for the LORD to throw more my way. Am I so devoted that I am looking for the test to show my willingness to take on any and everything in and for the name of the LORD. I like to think that I am, but am I?

There are a lot of things that go on in our lives and some of those things are an extension of our work for the LORD as tests and some of those things are brought on by the evil one as temptations. The difficult thing is to determine which is which as the evil one will disguise temptation as a test. For me, what I am discussing today from this passage in Psalm is the idea of simply asking God for the tests to help avoid the temptations. Will we still be tempted, yes as again I say, the evil one will disguise temptation as test. But, when we are asking in the name of the LORD, it shall be given.

Too often I find myself asking for those things that deliver me, but those things that allow me to demonstrate my devotion are far from my lips and heart. I want to have that which God provides and forget that I am here to provide glory for and to Him. I have to be fully devoted to the LORD, not just when times are good, but in all times and that goes for asking Him to allow me to show through tests.

What are you asking for from the LORD? Are you asking for deliverance at all times? What if you asked to show your devotion to Him through tests as well?

It seems as though daily I have questions for God about the direction He has for me in this world. I find myself looking for guidance because it does not feel as though I am moving toward anything specific. I continue to just keep doing and not seeing where. I want God to tell me.

All of that said and the questions that I have for the direction and guidance in this world, the one thing that I am careful not to do is to test the LORD. I ask plenty of questions seeking direction and answers, but I do not ask God to prove Himself to me.

“¹⁶You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.” — Deuteronomy 6:16 (ESV)

Too often I believe that we are looking for proof. We are looking to believe through seeing some action. With God though, I have to remember to have faith. I have to believe based on His love for me the fact that I am His adopted son and wants nothing but the best for me. He will not allow for me to be destroyed. He will protect me. He will guide me. He will make the path forward for me that I am able to glorify Him.

The LORD is here for me and will be here for me even when I may not realize it. In times of prosperity as well as in times of struggle. I should not be testing Him. I should have faith in the love and care He has for me. I can and should question. Not for proof, but for direction. I should ask for guidance and then after that asking, I have to open my heart to hear Him. I have to be still and listen. I have to direct my attention to Him. He will tell me, but He may not shout it at me.

I may be told and as is the case with us humans in this world, I may not listen. I may not take action as it may not fit into what I want to do. I have to get past the me and move on to the LORD. I have to obey and when I do, the questions I ask will be answered. I will be given direction and will hear. I will find that which He wants me to find and I will not have the need for any more questions as relates to that item.

The LORD will provide and I have to have faith that He will. I can and should ask for directions as to where He would have me go. I will not ask the LORD to prove himself to me. I will not test the LORD.

How are you finding out what is next in your path with the LORD? Are you hearing something and then asking Him to prove it to you? What if you were to ask and then obey without testing the LORD and His love and care for you?

I know, right. Praise thanks to trials. Isn’t is something to not have to go through trials. Isn’t it smoother to just get along and not have to fight for everything. Well, I do not believe that to be true. I want to have trials and adversity to grow stronger and know what not to do. I want to be able to overcome.

“⁶In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” — 1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV)

I see that it is not the trial that defines or makes you. It is the overcoming of those trails and adversity. I am more precious, as noted in verse seven above, than gold, and gold is tested directly by fire and heat as it is purified. I am greater than that. The trials and adversity I experience are refining me even more than precious metals. I am greater and have more value thanks to the coming through the other side of the trials and adversity.

For my experience and overcoming, I have reason to praise the one who brought me through. It is the trial that brought me to a closer dependency in God, and He provided the strength and ability to make it through as He protected me, His precious, throughout the process.

I will praise Him thanks to the trials. Not because of the trial itself, because as a human I certainly do not want to experience them. But because of the strength provided so that I could overcome and make it through to the other side allowing God to work in me.

What trials have your experienced through your life? Are you just glad to have those trials over? What if you praised God thanks to the trials that you were able to overcome as a result of the strength given to you by God and the fact that He values you more than anything?

“¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)

As I continue my study of the word “praise” and was brought to a passage in James. I know, I just quoted from 1 Thessalonians, so what is the deal. Well I wanted to show the correlation between prayer and praise. Notice in the verse above that there is not a mention of praise, however that is exactly what is being said, “rejoice” and “give thanks”. And those are joined with the context of praying.

“¹³Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.” — James 5:13 (ESV)

Here in the book of James, both prayer and praise are mentioned in the same verse. I am to take on which of them is of need in the moment. I am to pray for and praise for. I am not to only be on one side of the isle.

As I look at the verse in James and place it with the verse in 1 Thessalonians, I see that whatever I do, I am to pray or praise continually. Speaking with God on my and others behalf regardless of the situation we are in. I am to lift up to the LORD and allow Him to do His work in our lives.

I have to remember that praise and prayer are similar enough to be considered the same in that both are versions of speaking to God. I am either asking for, praying, or rejoicing for, praising and each of them are directed at and to God. He is the one that will take action that is in accordance with His will. I am here in the world to reach out to Him and complete the work He has for me. In order to know that work, I must be speaking to Him.

What do you know about praise and prayer? Are you only really speaking to the LORD in one of the situations? What if you were to do as in 1 Thessalonians and “pray without ceasing”, knowing that prayer and praise are both speaking with the LORD?

Who else should we praise than our brothers and sisters. These are those who are close to us and are family and whether we like it or not, they deserve our love for being family.

“¹¹For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, ¹²saying,

‘I will tell of your name to my brothers;

in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.’” — Hebrews 2:11-12 (ESV)

Jesus counts me as family and will praise me all the while. I count Him as family right back and will “sing” His praise out loud. I have a responsibility to be overt in my praise of my family and I take that responsibility serious. I have brothers and sisters that deserve my praise for what they have done and accomplished and that goes for my worldly brothers and sisters, Christian brothers and sisters, and Jesus.

I have to remember continually, as I have mentioned a number of times over the past few weeks in my study of the word “praise”, that it is not about me. It is about praise for the LORD and then I must be in the place to praise others. When I am looking at things I must look to praise my brothers and sisters for all that they are, have done, and will do as they move through this world and into a relationship with the LORD.

Who are you praising? Are you looking out for those around you? What if you looked to praise your brothers and sisters of this world, your fellow Christians, and Jesus?

“⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” — Philippians 4:8 (ESV)

Now that is a list of things that are praise worthy. Notice that these are all intrinsic attributes and not those that are simply on the surface. I see those things that require more thought and reflection as opposed to just visible to the eye. I may see these things, but the seeing just creates in me the curiosity to understand them.

I believe that too often we are looking for just those things that are immediately seen as those things that are worthy of accolades. We find celebrate the overt actions and bring attention to the one time that there was an act or action deemed great. When we come across that one instance, we lift it up as though it is something worthy of praise, while those “true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and excellent” is overlooked as simply consistent and expected.

I have to remember that consistency is to be praised. I have to ensure that I am looking for and praising those things that are of God to lift up and celebrate. I have to be searching for the “true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and excellent”. And when I find them, I have to sit up and take notice and give all glory to God who makes them possible and know that He is with me.

“⁹What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” — Philippians 4:9 (ESV)

What is it that you see as worthy of praise? Are you praising and celebrating the one thing that you see? What if you were to look more intrinsically and into the consistency in others that demonstrate the glory given to God as that to be praised?

“¹⁵Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” — Hebrews 13:15 (ESV)

There is a cost to lifting up of praise to the LORD. That cost is in the giving up of praise for the self. Seems like a simple thing to do, giving praise to the LORD, but in order to do so, there is a sacrifice in other areas. One has to give up the praise for self or for those in this world to offer up praise to the LORD in His world.

It is natural in this world to seek to be recognized and acknowledged for the work done. And for that there should be no ill feelings about. The thing is that we should not be solely looking for that to somehow validate our existence. I am here to please and bring glory to God. I have to remember that and give all of me to praise Him for what He has done and will do in my life, whether in this world or not.

Sacrifice is giving up for the giving. I have to remember that what I do is not about me. It is about my service to the LORD. I am here for Him and that is my purpose. I am here to bring glory to Him. I am here to serve Him. I am here to give to Him and that means that I must give up the desires of me. I have been given the opportunity to serve the LORD in this world. I have been saved by grace as I do not deserve the salvation given. I have to remember to give up and give. I have to thrust myself in the praise of the LORD and give up the praise of myself.

What process are you working through in praise? Are you looking to ensure that you are getting praise? What if you sacrificed your praise and gave it up to offer praise to the LORD for all that He has done and will do for you?