THE GEM OF PRAISE

📖Scripture: “Praiseworthy is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…” 1 Peter 1:3a

🔎Reflection: God’s WORD reveals praise as gloriously multi-faceted. The Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) give us at least seven vibrant expressions of praise: Hālal (to boast, rave), Yādâ (thanksgiving cast toward God), Zāmar (joyful music), Šîr (singing God’s greatness), Bārak (humble posture in praise), Rûaʿ (shouts of victory), and Kābôd (the weight of glory). Consider this revealed biblical truth: just as not all gems are diamonds, but all diamonds are gems... not all worship is praise, but all praise is worship.

Collectively, the various nuanced facets of praise weave together the picture of a singular gem: biblical praise is always public and always vocal. Yet many modern religious gatherings reduce “praise” to personal preferences — catchy songs that entertain... in environments that comfort or excite... performed in styles designed to please and satisfy us. All that exposes the sin of narcissistic self-praise as a form of self-worship. But God’s WORD, i.e., Scripture, graciously corrects and commands us to shout to God with joy (Ps 98:4), bow before the LORD with humility (Ps 95:6), and proclaim together the glory of God’s matchless name (Ps 29:2), because everything is from Him and for Him (Col 1:15-18; Rev 4:11)!

Therefore, praise can never be silent or solo! It is our bold, public, collective, and vocal declaration of the God of Scripture's surpassing greatness, glory, and inherent worthiness! The early New Testament church embraced and embodied this, even amid intense persecution (Acts 16:25; Heb 13:15) and dispersion (James 1:1; Acts 8:1-4, 11:19-21). To truly worship in Spirit and Truth (John 4:24), our church gatherings must embrace and exude this glorious, multifaceted, God-centered expression of His unfathomable praiseworthiness… simply because of who He is. That's the glorious gem of biblical praise!

🤺Action: Test yourself in this: think about a recent moment and the circumstances surrounding your most joyful and exuberant celebration… a sporting event, winning lottery ticket, good news, promotion, bonus, acceptance letter, etc. Now compare that expression to how you praise God Almighty.

Examine yourself in this: how often do you find yourself critiquing praise as a consumer with thoughts, comments, or questions such as:

• “How was worship today?”

• “I didn’t like that song.”

• “The worship team didn’t sound good today.”

• “I didn't really feel anything during that set.”

Unless our evaluations and comments are rooted in sound biblical truth and theology (e.g., rejecting songs that espouse abhorrent or heretical doctrine and practices), then they expose where our affections truly lie. When the measure of “praise and worship” is about my preferences, how it made me feel, or what I got out of it, then we've turned praise into something to be consumed, the idols of self-worship, an abomination rather than a fragrant and acceptable offering to the living God of Scripture (Rom 12:1-2).

True praise is not about preference, performance, or producing an atmosphere for us. It's our collective response first and foremost simply because of who God is... and then recognizing all He has done for us because of His holy, perfect, eternal, and unchanging character. The byproduct of ALL THAT is the gem of praise offered up by His redeemed and repentant people from hearts overflowing with gratitude, adoration, and awe (Ps 95:1-7; Heb 13:15)!

Are you silent, reserved, or embarrassed about praising the LORD loud and proud in the assembly? Do you treat praise as a performance to be critiqued or consumed… a stylistic preference to be lobbied for or to opt out of… or as a privilege to participate in with total abandon? This week, commit to engage fully in congregational praise — not for your benefit or approval, but for God Almighty; He alone is praiseworthy simply because of who He is!

🙏Prayer: Heavenly Father, You deserve my hallelujahs, thanksgiving, humble adoration, and victorious shouts of praise. Forgive me for times when I perverted praise into being about me... and for rationalizing my abstention and shrinking back in fear of man's approval rather than surrendering my life and voice fully to You. Please fill me with Your Spirit so that my lips and life will resound with bold and raucous praise worthy of Your holy name! I pray this in the sweet and precious name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

Click the following link for a short video version of today's devotional:

https://youtube.com/shorts/i_2KwL5ISBM?si=dkZYtnDwwr5Lq6BS

Kevin M. Kelley

Pastor BigIslandChristianChurch.com

Check out this song of praise First Things First, by Consumed by Fire