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Ps. 105: 1-5

Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name, let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the Lord and His strength continually! Remember the wondrous works that He has done...

 

 

What great words which should characterize my life!

 

Give thanks...And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. [Col. 3:17] This must be a constant regardless of the circumstances. If I really believe that everything He does is for my good, and I do, then I must be thankful.

 

Call upon His name...Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. [Col. 4:1] Call in any and every situation. Sadly, sometimes I neglect to do that and just plow ahead in my own strength and wisdom. Then when all goes belly-up, I call on His name. Oh, to call on Him immediately, to have it be my automatic response.

 

 Make known His deeds...Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. [Col. 4:5-6]  Sharing Jesus is the best use of my time! But how?? Always in grace, by grace, and through grace, my speech must be gracious and with salt, the preservative and the healer. If the salt has lost is flavor, it is good for nothing.

 

Sing praise...Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. [Col. 3:16] Praise and song are a direct result of being in the word, letting it fill, transform, and constrain me. As a natural outflow of the indwelling Spirit, I will be singing praises to Him.

 

Tell His works...He has delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.[Col. 1:13] His first and preeminent work in my life was my salvation, His delivering me from darkness and making me part of His kingdom, redeeming me at the cost of the life of Jesus, and forgiving my sins and covering me in the righteousness of Christ.

 

Glory in His name...He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones of dominions or ruler or authorities--all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the had of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross. [Col. 1:15-20] Is there anyone or anything that would be a better choice? No, He is the preeminent one! The one to receive all glory.

 

Rejoice in seeking...Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body,t hat is, the church, of which I became a minister...to make the word of God fully known. Rejoicing in the good times is natural, but rejoicing in suffering only comes through seeking Him, making Him the priority of my life, and allowing His grace and strength to control all that I do.

 

Seek Him and His strength  continually...If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. [Col. 3:1-3] May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy...[Col. 1:11] Since I have been raised with Christ, I must seek Him continually. This is the life of the new nature. Seeking and setting require my focus and my priorities. A life like this is not one of passivity but one of purpose.

 

Remember His works...Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. [Col. 2:6] I need to remember, to recall what I have been taught, what is true about God, and what He has done in my life. If I do this, it will keep my focus on Him not on the things of this world especially when tough times abound or the world is pulling hard to move my allegiance.

 

What great words that fit perfectly with what I am studying in Colossians! As I go through each day, I want my life to be characterized by these actions.

 

Father,

Fill me with the actions and attitudes that brings glory to Your name, that grow me in You, and that allow me to share You and the gospel with others.

In Jesus name,

Amen