"Taking Stock" -Too

"Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints." (Psalms 149:1)

  I have written below this verse, "Sing of new things!" I think it is rather interesting how the two different factors work together, the singing of new things unto the LORD, and His praise being sung in the church, as if the praise is more congregational. The way I see it, those new things are more personal, as is our relationship with God; the intimate things that God is working in our lives, one on one; most of which, is really just too difficult to explain, let alone, sing about. But the old things, the things that never change, those are the things we come together to celebrate and sing about as a group; the doctrinal and foundational things of our faith, something that is shared in each and every one of our lives, together as one. I believe that this is so vital in our understanding of how our walk in the Lord works; because we might not all have the same experiences, but we all have the same love, the same faith, as we share in One Body the hope of His calling; yet individually, we all are different members of the One Body, none more important or less necessary as another! (Ephesians 4:1-16) And yet, in the same regard, we are instructed to use the New Things together, as in the way we communicate with one another. Edifying one another, encouraging one another, and praying for one another, that our eyes would by fixed upon Jesus and the eternity that awaits us. I try to remember to do this whenever possible; but sadly, I fail miserably at making it consistent and constant. But that does not mean we should ever give up! At one point in time, I had a string tried to the finger that I point with, just to remind me what things I need to remember to talk about. If I heard another brother or sister talking about worldly struggles or worry, I would point up into heaven and remind them where our home is actually located, and that this place here isn't it. Paul continues sharing this point, as he takes about A New Way of Thinking; which is pretty much what it means when we are taking stock in this New Life we have been given...

"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that you have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:17-24)