May 18, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Psalms? Here’s today’s reading:
Psalms 100-101 (NIV)
A psalm. For giving grateful praise.
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
Psalm 100 is something we could start every day saying to ourselves, a powerful reminder of who God is, who we are to Him, and all that He has done and continues to do for us!
I love that Psalm 101 starts with praising God for both His love and His justice. They are so important to remember together. His love for us is why He paid the penalty we could never pay. Why He makes us right before Him even when it is undeserved. David recognized the importance of living a life pleasing to God and walking in His ways grateful for God’s mercy towards us.
100:3 It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves. Quite true, seems obvious, but we the people behave as though we are our own god. Once convinced we are self-sufficient, content with our way of life, our behavior, then why would we need a Creator God? In my lifetime, science has pounded society with conclusions that creation created itself; the world has bought the lie. Scientific fact-purported as fact- permeates our culture. In effect, there is no God, because we have solved the mystery of creation. No right or wrong, no meaning or purpose of life, and nothingness after death. Sad. Someone said the light shines in the darkness, but the darkness will not understand, comprehend it. May we all bear light to those around us, even within the body of Christ! -Gy
Be joyful before the Lord with singing. As we serve Him we need to be glad. We are His sheep for he leads and protects us. His mercy is everlasting and he is truth. Because of this we should live according to please Him and that means walking with a perfect heart [ desire to draw closer to him.] not putting any wicked thing before my eyes. We will not walk with those who desire to do evil. How so true this is today in our wicked world. It seems that everything is turned upside down. That right is wrong and wrong is right. I don`t recognize the United States of America anymore. There was a time when this nation was a Christian nation. We were sending out missionaries to other nations. Now nations are sending missionaries to us because there is no fear of God here. That`s even if they know who God is and who is Jesus Christ. People do have a religion even if they don`t know the true and living God. It is humanism where people are their own God or they worship the creature or things. Even all the other religions in the world are about what man can do to be saved. It is based on what they can do ; not on what Jesus Christ did on the cross and then rose again on the third day. Mankind just wants to do whatever he feels like doing which if left to himself is evil. This reminded me of a couple of hymns. In Times like These, and I Am Thine, O Lord. In times like these you [ we] need a Saviour. This is how this hymn starts and goes on to say that Jesus is the anchor and the rock. In the other hymn I am thine o Lord the chorus is asking to draw closer to God. I enjoy the hymns. God bless you all.
How enthusiastic and consistent our praise to God should be. Even if we are not necessarily singing or speaking to have thanksgiving and praise to Him resinating in our hearts. It then reenforces reasons for joy and causes gladness in us. It is also fitting as we think about approaching Him, to praise and thank Him for both His person as well as the things that He has done on our behalf. It should lead then to a life lived for Him, to be circumspect about the way we live. We need to consider the people and things that we expose ourselves to. Are we around people that encourage righteousness or sin? Are we being the ones influenced or the one who is influencing? Are we doing things that foster good things in other peoples lives? Praising God for His love and justice hit me too and considering how I live those out as well.
I agree with the above responses. Every day we should seek the joy of our just and loving God. Songs of praise should be sung everyday. For me, singing is a very personal and joyful praise of God.
Psalms 100-101
Psalm 101: Some good advice on how we are to live our lives as God’s people:
Sing praise to God for his love and justice.
Conduct our affairs blamelessly – without fault, innocent, guiltless.
Do not tolerate anyone who is wicked ie, prideful, slanderous and deceitful.
Stay close to those who are faithful and obedient to the Lord. Let them counsel us on what is right and just.