Head: Know God’s Word | Heart: Love God | Hands: Follow God’s Way
Read Psalms 98
Head
Psalms are very different from the Revelation chapters we have read this week. The chapters of Revelation focus on the wicked and what will become of them when Jesus returns to rid us of all the evil that has been in control. What a breath of fresh air to focus on God's holiness and His Salvation. Praising Him for all that He does for us and will do to restore order in this broken world. I could almost hear the worship music being cued up. Thank God who is and was and is to come! He is the one true King who will reign forever! Amen.
Heart
These Psalms remind us that God is holy and perfect. God created everything we see, and He wants an intimate relationship with us. But sin entered the world, and God had to be separated from us because of our sin. God, in His infinite mercy and grace, sent us a Savior, His Son, to take the punishment for our sin. This is a reason we should be worshipping God every minute of every day! God deserves our love and devotion. So, worship Him no matter what. He doesn't give up on us but continues to hope that even those who reject Him will one day repent and follow Him. One thing God promises is that He is the Judge. James 4:12a says, "There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy."
Hands
After reading Psalms 97-98, what is God commanding us to do? He wants us to be thankful and grateful that there is hope in Jesus. He calls us to worship Him and make God the focus of our lives, not the evil and tempting things that drag us away from Him. Keep our focus on the loving hand of God that draws us closer, ensuring our hearts are filled with joy and love for the God who will bring an end to the wickedness in this world. That all the injustices will be brought before the Judge, and punishment will be handed out. Ensure your heart is in a close relationship with God and seek to help the spiritually lost find forgiveness with the only One who can save them. Luke 19:10 says, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." So, as once lost sheep, let us give praises to our Shepherd who loves us and calls us His own. Let us bow before Him in thanksgiving and humble obedience to His mercy and grace that He has poured out for us.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we praise You, Lord, for being our one true God. We know You are the Judge and that one day You will come and put an end to all the wickedness and injustices in this world. Until that day, help us to stand ready to explain to others the joy we have in You. That through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for our sins, we are made new. May we always give You the praise and honor that You deserve. You are holy and help us to surrender to Your perfect will for our lives. You are worthy of so much more than we can say or offer, but we humbly surrender to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.