Pastor's Corner - 11/19

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.
-- Psalm 150:6

Psalm 150 brings us to the final words of the Psalter, yet it is not really an ending. It is an invitation to a song that never stops. Just as the crowd kept singing long after U2 fades out at their concerts, true worship continues long after the benediction. The church gathers to praise, but the praise of God must follow us back into our homes, workplaces, and quiet moments.

This psalm reminds us why we praise God. We praise Him for His mighty deeds and for His surpassing greatness. We look at creation. We remember redemption. We consider the cross. We look at our own lives and realize that every breath is a gift from God.

We praise Him with everything we have, not just instruments or songs, but with our whole selves. We praise Him with our minds as we meditate on His word. We praise Him with our hearts as we delight in His goodness. We praise Him together because worship is not a solitary act. It is the joyful noise of the redeemed family of God.

And we praise Him continually because praise does not wait for the right mood. It flows from truth. It is rooted in the character of God, not the circumstances of life.

Christ took His final breath upon the cross so that our voices would never fall silent in the worship of God. He is our reason for praise. He is our life. He is our song.

Dear Church, let every breath this week become an act of worship. Let praise rise in your heart and on your lips, for the One who gave everything so that we might sing forever. Hallelujah.