08/01/2020
When do we bless the Lord? Are we only meant to bless, and praise Him, in the righteous times, or for the holy things in our life? How about the everyday routine things that most of us don’t consider worthy, and which don’t appear to be good or bad? I assume your answer is “yes“ in all of these things? So how about the sin that we find in our lives, the evil that comes against us, suffering, torment, and all forms of tribulation? Do you still answer “yes”? Well you should...
“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
Psalm 34:1 ESV
God is with us anywhere, and everywhere, we might find ourselves, and we are thus to praise Him At all times. We naturally praise Him for all that is good, and right, but how can we possibly praise Him when we are floundering in sin, or set upon by all forms of bad such that we are tormented, suffer, face tribulation; or cause others to be in such situations? Are we meant to praise Him then too? The answer is yes, because there is no limit placed upon praise, and no stipulation regarding when, or where our efforts are acceptable... because He is right there with us in the good places and the bad, and it is His will to lead us in the good, and deliver us from the bad.
“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.”
Hebrews 13:15 ESV
God calls us from whatever miserable state we are in, and transforms us through Jesus Christ. He works all things for good, regardless of what they are, and deserves to be praised in every circumstance, but it is hard for us to praise Him when we are engaged in the act of sinning, suffering, or making others to suffer. Yet, that is exactly what scripture tells us to do.
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”
Psalm 150:6 ESV
Saul of Tarsus was a man who relentlessly pursued Christians, put some to death, and tortured others. As a Christian in his day it would have been difficult to praise the Lord when they found him at their door, or to see any good in this man as they suffered at his hand, but God was preparing him to do great things for the Christian Faith, and the Church. This begs the question... how is it that Stephen was allowed to be martyred while Saul approvingly held his clothes, and would He expect Stephen to praise Him as the stones of rage were pummeling him?
“Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.”
Acts 7:58 ESV
Yet Stephen did continue on in his faith, and forgave Saul along with the rest of his assailants. Then, God went on to make a saint of this man Saul... a murderer. Our God turned hatred, sin, and evil Of the crowd into an amazing good according to His greater will.
“And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
Acts 7:59-60 ESV
In Saul’s transformation into Paul, we learn that a person’s transformation doesn’t begin when they put away their sin, no, it begins while they are yet enjoying, or participating in sin; a sin that God finds detestable. For this we praise Him... not for the sin, but for the conviction we feel in it, and for the small still voice that leads us to our transformation in Jesus, just as it led Saul to become Paul.
“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:6-8 ESV
In this way there is no place or time that we should not praise God, or pray blessings upon Him. His voice is in our ear while we are yet sinners, His hand is upon us in every storm as He teaches us, and in the deaths of every Stephen we encounter in our lives there is a greater good, and purpose, being worked in His will.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:2-4, 12 ESV
So, where are we in our lives today, and are we praising God in the place where we find ourselves? Are we asking Him to forgive the Sauls we face, and are we going a step further by praising God for them, and the good He is drawing out of such men as they sin, and torment us? Or, are we the sinners who still go by the name Saul, and although we hear the distant beckoning of God, are yet to answer Him, and have not been convicted sufficiently to have been brought to that place where we were knocked down, and come face to face with Jesus? Wherever we are, let us praise God, and know that He is transforming us, and that it is His desire that we each become righteous, and take on a new name.
Prayer:
Father thank you for all that you do in my life each day, and for the many blessings I receive from you. I thank you for the good, and the bad, and all that that I encounter along the way. I trust that your will is at work in each as you lead me towards righteousness, and transform me from the rampant sinner I once was, into a good and righteous person. Praised be your name Lord for the turmoil that is in the earth, and the suffering I feel right now, because your ultimate will is good, and certain, and just. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who opens my eyes to the good seed of faith that is in every soul. I praise you for those who mistreat me, and ask that they hear you voice, and come to find you through Jesus Christ. Hear my prayers, Father, and guard my soul against the evil that is in the world... even as I praise you for how you use it to accomplish your good will. I praise you for taking the tools of the sinners, and letting your light shine from their darkness. Stay with me all my days Lord, and bring me through the valley of the shadow of death into your light forevermore.
“All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:3-5 ESV
Rich Forbes