False Flattery vs. Genuine Praise

They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer. But then they would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues; their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant. (Psalm 78:35-37)

One time I was given an award for community service. At first, I felt both honored and humbled. But when I met with the team that selected me, I gained an increasing sense that they were falsely flattering me. I felt very uncomfortable. Later, I learned the presentation banquet was essentially a fund raiser for their ministry. They were hoping I would draw people not just to support me, but to further their cause.

When we give someone positive feedback, we need to examine our motivations. Are we flattery them for our own benefit, or are we praising God for what God is doing through their lives? A man named Wendell Phillips once said –

"Many know how to flatter, few know how to praise."

We need to let go of false flattery and develop the discipline of praise for God in the lives of God’s people.

Musical Praise

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
(Psalm 150:3-5)

There was a man in my first church who told me once – “The sermon is your part of the service. The music is mine.”

Music has a way of uniting us in worship like nothing else. When we join together in song, we can make a beautiful melody unto the Lord. Even if it sounds just like noise, through the Holy Spriit, it becomes a "joyful noise" that God takes pleasure in.

Igor Stravinski said, “Music praises God. Music is well or better able to praise him than the building of the church and all its decoration; it is the Church's greatest ornament.”

Whatever the Weather

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. (1 Chronicles 29:11)

Last Friday night, we were suddenly hit by a snow storm, followed by hard rain. The ice became several inches thick. It was very difficult to get around. We could barely open our doors. It was a great demonstration of God's power to slow us down as well as witness His hand in the allowing us to see the beauty of the earth.

On Saturday and Sunday, the sun came out and with a lot of plowing and sanding, the church lot was cleared and we were able to gather to praise the One who is the King of creation and Lord of all nature. Many more than I expected came out on a cold (and potentially slippery) day. It was a blessing to be in the sanctuary of God's house hearing His Word, singing praise to Him, calling on Him in prayer.

John Calvin wrote --

“There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice.” (John Calvin)

Whatever the weather, give praise to God.