"It is fitting to thank the Lord, and to sing praises to your name, O sovereign One!" Psalm 92:1
I don't even need an occasion to praise God, really. Life itself is opportunity to praise the sovereign One. He knows our days, our ways. He is always fitting of our praises.
That's what doxology is all about.
I've been falling asleep to a playlist of John Piper sermons for most of the nights since September. (For some reason, theology knocks me out...convenient at bedtime but not on Sunday morning!) There's this one sermon pretty early in the playlist about living your life as doxology. A lifestyle of praise.
Circumstances don't always seem to be reason to praise. But God Himself is always reason enough. I pray that my life would be a constant expression of gratitude to the Savior.
The year is off to a beautiful start. Already, it's been full of sweet fellowship, personal growth and emotional healing. It's also been full of deep, lasting pain in the lives of friends and students. It's a year of challenge, of heartache, of sleeplessness, weariness, and hard, hard work. And the year is barely a week old. But the Sovereign one is timeless.
As the journey to discover what pleases the Lord continues, I'm beginning to see that the Lord is the only one who can truly please us. It's not that He needs our praise, rather, He deserves it. All good things are from Him. Praise Him.
As God keeps changing my heart, helping me be content in Kitsap, I've started listening to country. (Who knew it could happen?) There's this one song, though, that reminds me of this idea of doxology, of praising in all circumstances:
"And I wouldn't change a thing
I'd walk right back through the rain
Back to every broken heart on the day that it was breaking
And I'd relive all the years
And be thankful for the tears
I cried with every stumbling step that led to you
And got me here" (Here by Rascal Flatts)
So, there you have it, doxology from a country song. Maybe the apocalypse is coming soon after all...
Monday, January 12, 2009
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Ephesians 5
Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”
Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
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