(Psalms 135:1-14) Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD, give praise, O servants of the LORD, who stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God! Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant! For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession. For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast; who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants; who struck down many nations and killed mighty kings, Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan, and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel. Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages. For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.
(Titus 2:11-15) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
God has always wanted His people to know what He has done and for them to declare it with boldness. Declaring to unbelievers what the Lord has done opens the door for the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts and lives and is the way God has chosen to bring people into His kingdom. Declaring to fellow believers what God has done is a means to help others to a deeper relationship with Him, to bring Him greater glory among His people, and to build up and strengthen the Church. Declaring to yourself what the Lord has done is a reminder of from where it is you have come, how undeserving you are of His blessings, and where it is that you are ultimately heading.
God has done all He has done and continues to do what He does for specific purposes; to demonstrate His glory to all the Earth and thus lead unbelievers to Himself and remove all excuses for unbelief, and to build His Church to live with together for eternity.
Declare to yourself and those you come into contact with today the wonderful things that God has done and share in accomplishing God's purpose in your life, the lives of those around you, and in the world.
Questions For Discussion
- Name some things that the Lord has done, for you and for the world in general.
- In what ways can you declare (to unbelievers, fellow believers, and to yourself) the things God has done.
- How does declaring what the Lord has done, share in accomplishing God's purpose?
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