Shout To The Lord
When I first got into ministry, I worked with a pastor who had a saying on Super Bowl Sunday that, at the time, really bothered me. He would say: “Imagine if we worshiped God with the same passion we cheer for our team in the Super Bowl.” Looking back, I think it bothered me because it convicted me, and I just didn’t want to admit it. So instead, I brushed it off as one of those “things non-sports fans say.”
Now that I’m older and (hopefully) wiser—joking implied—I can see just how right he was. No matter what we cheer for and praise here on earth, our praise of God should be greater. That’s the biblical and healthy place for us to be.
Yet even with that knowledge, I still struggle at times. I find it much easier to get excited about earthly things than about godly things. Why? Because earthly things are right in front of me. I don’t have to silence distractions to see them or praise them—they’re right in my face. But to praise the godly things, I have to turn my attention away from what’s in front of me and refocus on what is above. It’s not that I don’t believe I have an abundance of reasons to praise; it’s a focus issue. Too often, my attention is fixed on things of this world rather than on the things above.
Colossians 3 reminds us:
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
This Sunday, we are looking at Psalm 98, which is a psalm of praise. It begins with:
“Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things!”
And Psalm 100 opens with:
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!”
We are instructed to praise God—but this shouldn’t be a difficult task. We have an abundance of reasons to praise Him.
Let’s consider our prelude song for this Sunday, “Shout to the Lord”:
My Jesus, my Saviour
Lord, there is none like You
Exodus 15:11 — “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?”
My comfort, my shelter
Tower of refuge and strength
Psalm 61:3 — “For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.”
Mountains bow down
And the seas will roar
Psalm 97:5 — “The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.”
I sing for joy
At the work of Your hands
Psalm 8:3–4 — “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?”
Nothing compares to the promise
I have in You
John 1:12 — “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
Let’s not allow the things of this world to hijack our focus and overshadow the reasons we have to praise. May our lives reflect the glory of God in everything we do!
Colossians 3:15–17:
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 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. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Adam