Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: "Apostle Tom" <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:20:07 -0500
To: pressingon@hotmail.com
Subject: Morning Manna (Sept. 20); BP: Ps. 50; RBTTY: II Cor. 12; Eccl. 4-6
September 20 “The Power of Praise and God-talk”
“Now, consider this, you that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces and
there be none to deliver: Whosoever offers praise glorifies Me—and to him
that orders his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.”
Psalm 50:22-23
When He’s the center of our lives, He’ll be the main focus of our walk
and talk.
Have you noticed how our conversation reveals where our real interests
are? Think about it: A fishing fanatic loves to talk about the latest
bait, boat and the one that got/ didn’t get away. An avid baseball or
basketball fan loves telling others how good his team is and the latest
statistics of the star player.
But, “talk” isn’t all a true fanatic does.
No, he’s likely to have souvenirs of his team. . .autographed copies of
something from the team’s “superstar”. . .pictures, banners and clothing
items with the team’s colors and logo, etc. That’s why they’re called a
“fanatic.” They “consumed” with anything and everything to do with the
team.
The question is, “Shouldn’t we have this same spiritual infatuation
with the Lord Jesus and His Kingdom work?”
Assuredly we should.
That’s why the Psalmist Asaph’s words in today’s Manna are both
piercing and precious. They’re piercing because we know there are times we
“forget God,” putting Him on the back shelf of our heart and mind—seemingly
comforted by knowing He’s there “if we need Him.” And, they’re precious
because they tell us what to do.
Oh, dear Pilgrim, our Lord should not ever take second place to
anything in this world. He deserves better, doesn’t He? A thousand times
“Yes!!” Thus, we should not be surprised when things start falling apart
when He’s little more to us than some type of “Fire Insurance Policy”
against hell. He’ll not play second fiddle to anyone; as someone said
“He’ll be Lord of all or He won’t be Lord at all.”
So true, so true.
Therefore, we should decide today to consciously commit ourselves to
filling our mind and mouth with “words of praise for our Lord.” As David
said, “The Lord is great and greatly to be praised—and His greatness is
unsearchable” (Ps. 145:3). How much better our witness would be. . .and how
much more peaceful our heart would be. . . if our “mouths would speak the
praise of the Lord” in every situation (Ps. 145:21a). Anyone can get “down
in the mouth” and fill the air with whining, pining and complaining;
however, much better are words of praise, for they “glorify God” and point
others to Him.
Learning to “bridle our tongue” (James 3:2) through continual praise,
will also help us to “order aright our conversation (Heb. ‘derek’—‘a road
well-trodden, course of life, mode of action, custom, journey, etc.).”
Simply put, as a disciple of Christ we should be disciplined in both words
and deeds—for these “show the salvation of God” . . . and help make
others hungry and thirsty to know Him too.
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