"For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done. I will sing for joy at the works of your hands. How great are Your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep." (Psalm 92:4-5).
This Psalm is one of the songs of Sabbath. For the psalmist there is no clear distinction between praise and thanksgiving. The psalmist praises the LORD (Yahweh) for His "deeds" (v. 4) with the voice of thanksgiving. We praise God for who He is--His greatness and majesty, and we thank Him for what He has done for us especially, His redemptive work in our Lord Jesus Christ. The acts of God are not to be distinguished from His "deeds," which are expressive of His nature.
In the history of the nation of Israel, God's mighty act of deliverance is the one from Egyptian bondage, which is vividly narrated in the Book of Exodus. In His goodness God abases the wicked and exalts the righteous (Psalm 113:7-9; 1 Samuel 2:3-8; Luke 1:46-55). The difference between God and man/woman is that man/woman can neither penetrate the mind of God nor fully understand the acts of His love (Isaiah 55:8; Romans 8:39).
Do you believe that Christ has made a full atonement for your sins and that your sins are forgiven? The unfortunate thing is that whereas Christ has paid the penalty for our sins, some people cannot forgive themselves. However, if you have said yes to Jesus Christ, then your sins have been forgiven. This should be a cause for rejoicing and worship of Christ. Christ's redemptive work on the cross must put a smile on your face and a song in your heart.
The sad thing is that many believers are living under their circumstances because they do not fully comprehend Jesus' work on the cross. They cannot rejoice because they have allowed their circumstances to overwhelm them and rob them of their joy in Christ. Yes, you and I must praise God for His creation. If the heavens declare the glory of the Lord, then those who are made in His image should sing praises to Him. Nevertheless, we must adore and worship the Lord because of His redemptive work for us in Christ Jesus.
How far could the praise of condemned sinners go if Christ had not paid the penalty for our sins? Anyone who takes lightly the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross does not understand the nature of God, the price He paid, the depth of the person's sins, and such a person's worship is in vain. Those of you that have rejected Jesus Christ let me ask you a question. "Where is your triumph without Jesus Christ?" You do not have any triumph because you are not sure of your eternal destiny. You can brag in the presence of people but when you are alone the question of your eternal destiny haunts you. You are in fact, scared so you do not want to think about death. However, your denial does not make death obsolete or disappear, or a thing of the past. Death is a present reality. Not only are you afraid of death but also where you would spend eternity. These are nagging questions that wake you up sometimes in the middle of the night. Give your life to Christ and your eternal destiny will become secure.
On the contrary, those of you that are believers, rejoice for Christ has given you eternal life. Christ has paid for your sins, not in part but in full. When He said, "It is finished" on the cross He meant what He said. Everything about your redemption, forgiveness, blessing, prosperity, and heavenly inheritance has been completed for you. Therefore, rejoice in Christ. Sing a new song to the Lord because your destiny has been secured.
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