"Praise God!"

PSALMS 150!

  As we wrap up these wonderful and inspirational words, I would like to draw attention to the fact that both the beginning and the end are short six verse Psalms. You know by now how this crazy mind of mine works, because as much as this is about praising God, these words are written for man to know the praises of God! In the Old Testament writings, we are given a chance to witness the way man must turn and prepare his heart for what God will do; in the New Testament writings, we are given the hope that the way has been made for man's heart to be turned, because God's will has been done! Either way, our righteousness is not our own, it is the righteousness of Christ Jesus that has made all of this possible; it is not our own doing, it is all God's doing; and He did it for us, that He would be praised! To that note, the last thing Jesus spoke of, in the light of His Light, was about our righteousness exceeding the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees; and there is only one way for that to happen: that the righteousness we claim to have obtained has come from Jesus Christ! That is all there is to it! How amazing it is to be able to accept this truth and to walk out the promises that we have been given. As Paul says, with as much certainty as anyone could: "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God." (Galatians 6:14-16) I did nothing to earn my salvation, and I can never do anything to keep this salvation! Crazy as it might sound, it is the simple truth; a truth that is based upon the mighty work that God has accomplished, that we should be able to walk in, letting Him work in us! How that might look for you, I cannot determine or know; just as it is for me, that the work He does within me, it not for anyone else to determine or know. These are the things that matter the most: is whether we believe that He loves us, and if we do, what will be our response to that love...

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest and man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:8-10)