Why should we sing to God?
27 Jan 26
Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year One
Readings:
Exodus 13
Exodus 14
Exodus 15
Matthew 19:1-15
He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God (Psalm 40:3).
Why should we sing to God?
The Bible’s first recorded song comes on the heels of the Lord giving the Egyptian soldiers a watery grave. Moses records, “I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!” (Exodus 15:1). Christians can also sing because Christ has conquered death. In Paul’s extensive treatise on the resurrection, he pens, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). Moreover, we can sing to God because He graces little children with heaven who die prematurely. Jesus says, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14). Exuberantly, “Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2).
Employment Point: Sing to God, who gives us victory through Jesus.
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Reflections
“Moreover, we can sing to God because He graces little children with heaven who die prematurely. Jesus says, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14).”
- reading this part of the devotional reminds me of the time when all the staff have to leave the operating room to allow quiet time for the parents to grieve, before we proceed with organ transplant. It was a 5 year old who died of reasons I could not remember. We were all grieved and grateful at the same time. God knows how we feel, the pain from the loss and the gratefulness of giving of such great love. It was a moment I remembered forever, besides the first death and first birth I experienced as a nurse.
- However, this devotional brings along a perspective which brings comfort. That the little angel was brought to Him, because He graces little children. This is such a wonderful assurance of great love. Like they suffer the least because they are the most pure of mankind. With clean hands and a pure heart. Not much testing required on the earth but got upgraded pretty fast to be with our Father. Praise the Lord
“As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!””
Exodus 14:10-12 NIV
- in the face of death, many will be afraid, to a point that that will forsake the Lord.
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.””Exodus 14:14 NIV
“Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.”Exodus 14:19-20 NIV
“During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.””
Exodus 14:24-25 NIV
“The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.”Exodus 14:28 NIV
“And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.”Exodus 14:31 NIV
- the Lord declared in v 14:14 that He will fight for them and they only need to be still. What happened next was never planned by human, and cannot be comprehended by any human. This is the act of God, by His power, His faithfulness and Him keeping the promise that He will be there. The rest we all know is history.
- It is a strong reminder to us all that the Lord fights battles we know nothing about. His ways and thoughts are beyond our imagination. We should know better not to allow setbacks or challenges put us down like the Israelites. The same God, who delivered the Israelites out from Egypt will too, deliver us out from our valleys. Be still, He will fight for us.
Would like to just share the song that came to me as I read.. May you be blessed by it too
https://youtu.be/gn5CMSSAx_c?si=d0ecuqTGJmCVPWLI
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Look Again and Think
BY OSWALD CHAMBERS
January 27
Do not worry about your life. —Matthew 6:25
How easy following this command would be if we could just decide, once and for all, to stop worrying about the world and its demands; if, having pledged ourselves to Jesus, we could just forget about the things that used to obsess us. But answering the call is never this easy. The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, the pull of desire and hunger and lust—these are recurring tides, always lapping at our shores. If we don’t allow the Spirit of God to rise up against them, they’ll come flooding in.
Jesus is telling us to be careful about one thing only: our relationship to him. Common sense shouts that this is ridiculous, that we must think about what we’re going to eat and drink and wear. Jesus says we must not. Beware of thinking that Jesus’s words don’t apply to your particular circumstances, that he doesn’t understand what you’re going through right now. Jesus understands your circumstances better than you do, and he says you must not make these things the central concern of your life. Whenever there’s a competition, put your relationship to God first.
“Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). How much trouble has begun to threaten you today? What mean little imps have been looking in and saying, “What are you going to do next month, next summer, next year?” “Do not be anxious,” Paul tells us (Philippians 4:6). Look again, and think, drawing your awareness to the “much more” of your heavenly Father: “Will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30).
WISDOM FROM OSWALD
Christianity is not consistency to conscience or to convictions; Christianity is being true to Jesus Christ.
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Reflections
If I read it correctly, the message from the Lord is straightforward and simple. His main message to us is to focus on Him. Once our eyes are fixed on Him, the rest of the things will follow. Such as, our trust, our faith, our life, our family, friends, workplace, nation and the world. It is a ripple effect. However, in order to have the ripple effect, we need to step out and take action.
Can you imagine you are holding a piece of stone in your hand. That piece of stone is you. That was what made you externally. Your looks, your possessions, your relationships, your wealth and status, etc. Who you are spiritually is just who you are.
Now, imagine grabbing that piece of stone which represents everything of you and throwing it into the calm sea that is very still. You have to throw it out hard so that it doesn’t land on the seashore. It ought to land into the deep ocean. That weight alone plus the force you throw it out, represents how much you want to be near God, to listen to His word and to build this intimate relationship with Him. It creates ripples once the stone touches water. It stirs the heart far deeper than we throw it. It anchors. Because now you are no longer you, you have given and surrender all of yourself to the Lord. He who holds everything in this world, including the vast ocean, holds you. He who knows you even before you were born, gave you a heart. A heart that beats for Him and Him only.
Friends, let us not worry about anything that is external. For He takes cares of us better than sparrows and made us in His own image. Take courage therefore, and not be afraid to rely on Him. Have complete faith and continue to trust even when things don’t turn out our way. He knows the world best. He knows us best and He therefore definitely love us too the most. Do not let anyone take away that truth from Your heart and do obey His commandments.
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