Tag: worship

  • Sing Praises

    This morning I was reading in the Psalms. Psalms 120-134 is a group of 15 psalms, traditionally sung by the Jews when going to the temple, the Shir HaMa’alot (literally the songs of going up or the songs of ascent). I picture a crowd of worshippers climbing the road to Jerusalem, singing together, like a group of Christians might sing familiar hymns a cappella.

    There is something moving when a group of believers gathers and praises corporately. I remember a Promise Keepers rally decades ago; I can’t remember who spoke or what they spoke on, but I do remember tens of thousands of men, their voices united, singing praises to the Lord. What a moment.

    The Christian faith is both highly personal and communal. Each of us has a personal relationship with Jesus, but that relationship is designed to function in a larger body of believers. A solo Christian, outside the body, is not functioning as God designed us. 

    We serve one another, bless one another, love one another. We grow together, hold each other accountable and learn to extend and receive forgiveness and grace. We worship together, sing together and encourage each other.

    When the congregation sings a familiar tune, and every voice is lifted in praise, it moves us, and I am certain it praises the Lord. Now, certainly not all of us have great singing voices. My voice was once compared to a bear in work boots walking through a gravel pit. I don’t know exactly what that sounds like, but I know it wasn’t complimentary.

    The point isn’t how well you sing. It’s about opening your hearts and voices to the one who loved us beyond measure and deserves all honor, glory and praise. That’s what the Jewish people would do on the way up to Jerusalem.

    The Word encourages us to sing praises to God.

    Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Psalm 95:1 ESV

    And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. Ephesians 5:18-19 ESV

    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16 ESV

    To borrow a line from a children’s song, ‘Don’t worry that it’s not good enough for anyone else to hear, just sing.” God knows your voice; He gave it to you, and He delights in hearing your song.

    Sing His praises.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    SUMMARY

    I’ve been struck by the power of believers lifting their voices together in praise. Our voices don’t have to be beautiful for God to delight in them.

    TAKEAWAY

    A solo Christian, cut off from other believers, isn’t functioning the way God designed you to.

    Your voice doesn’t need to sound good for God to delight in it.

    Scripture commands you to address other believers in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

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  • Lessons in obedience

    What the shepherds tell us

    Merry Christmas. Okay, perhaps not yet, but I was reading the Advent story in Luke’s gospel when something struck me afresh. It’s a very familiar passage. Perhaps too familiar, as we can skim over it easily without thinking. The shepherds give us a lesson in obedience here.

    And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 

    And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

    When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Luke 2:8-20 ESV

    Old ground, right? An angel appears and proclaims the event, and the heavenly host (the armies of God) rejoice. The shepherds choose obedience. They go to see and tell others what they saw. The others wonder, and the shepherds return home.

    What didn’t happen? The people of Bethlehem wondered, but there is no indication they believed. They didn’t go see for themselves. Perhaps a few believed, but it makes me wonder. If someone told me God appeared just down the block, I’d certainly be inclined to go take a look, if for no other reason than curiosity or to prove them foolish.

    The shepherds were obedient. They believed, and they worshipped.

    God didn’t hold them accountable for not producing results. Our task is obedience; God produces the transformation in others’ hearts.

    There was joy and worship in simply knowing and being obedient. They don’t seem to have worried about what others thought or believed. They did what God asked and praised His name.

    Obedience to the Lord and praise are their own rewards. They are opportunities and gifts for believers alone.

    Perhaps there is a lesson here for us. If we walk in obedience and praise God, there are blessings. The Scripture is full of promises of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.

    Let’s strive to follow the Lord and give him glory.

    God’s richest blessings,

    Kevin

    SUMMARY

    I was struck afresh reading the familiar Christmas story in Luke 2: the shepherds heard the angel’s news, believed it, and went in obedience, even though what happened next wasn’t up to them. Their example reminds me that our part is simply to walk in obedience and give God the glory, and to trust Him with the results in other people’s hearts.

    TAKEAWAY

    The shepherds responded to the angel’s message with immediate obedience, going to Bethlehem without hesitation or proof.

    The people of Bethlehem “wondered” but there’s no indication they believed; the shepherds weren’t responsible for that outcome, only for their own obedience.

    There was joy and worship simply in knowing and obeying, without the shepherds worrying about how others would receive it.

    IMAGE NOTES

    Today’s image is: Shepherd & flock, Sinai (matpc 09668), American Colony/Matson Photo Service, between 1898 and 1946. No known restrictions on publication. Library of Congress Colorized 2026

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