By Not Known
Atheists say that there is no God; therefore people are not created by Him. Evolutionists deny God created human beings. Many religions do not acknowledge the creation story or God as the Creator. However, the Psalmist acknowledges that not only did God create the Israelites He is also their Shepherd. The Psalmist declares that the Lord would lead them to ‘green pasture’ and provide them with ‘still water’ and go with them through many dangers and toils (Ps 23). The Israelites were filled with praises and thanksgiving to be given the privilege to enter the Temple to meet God.
As for us, we have the privilege to be the children of God by believing in the Lord Jesus and we could freely enter His presence in prayers and worship. The Holy Spirit fills our hearts with joy and thankfulness whenever we draw near to Him with sincere hearts. Worshipping and praising God together as a church family delights God when our hearts are joyful and thankful.
Developing a spiritual habit of regular and specific time for our Quiet Time could help us not to miss our daily appointment with God. Similarly, we could cultivate the habit of being early for the Sunday Worship Service to enable us to settle down with the right frame of mind to meet God. For unhurried paces and a heart of readiness could help us focus on our Creator. That could mean forming the habit of waking up early or getting things ready the night before, settling the younger children to bed early and avoiding late nights on Saturdays (for 9 am worshippers). In short, God is worthy of our whole worship – body, mind and spirit.
Developing a spiritual habit of meditation could help us to have thankful hearts that want to serve God. Last month, sweet aroma filled Dunman Hall for a few days when busy but cheerful ladies were seen preparing and baking walnut cakes, chicken pies, and other pastries for the Family Carnival of the 135th Anniversary of the Presbyterian Church in Singapore. They also helped to sell the carnival tickets over a few weekends. Their laborious service is an example of loving, thanking and worshipping God.
How do we express our thanks and love to God as we enter His gate each week? Do we come prepared with our lips of praise and hearts of worship to celebrate who God is? Do we set aside our possession for offerings and tithes as thanksgiving since everything we have are given freely to us?
“Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalms 100:3-4
John Chew