Giving God Our Best
Psalms 117
Praise the LORD, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. For his unfailing love for us is powerful; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the LORD!
Queen Mary made it her practice to visit Scotland every year. She was so loved by the people there that she often mingled with them freely without a protective escort. One afternoon while walking with some children, she went out farther than she’d planned. Dark clouds came up unexpectedly, so she stopped at a nearby house to borrow an umbrella.
“If you will lend me one,” she said to the lady who answered the door, “I will send it back to you tomorrow.” The woman didn’t recognize the Queen and was reluctant to give this stranger her best umbrella. So she handed her one that she intended to throw away. The fabric was torn in several places and one of the ribs was broken.
The next day another knock was heard at the door. When the lady opened it, she was greeted by a royal guard, who was holding in her hand her old, tattered umbrella. “The Queen sent me,” he said. “She asked me to thank you for loaning her this.” For a moment the woman was stunned, then, she burst into tears. “Oh, what an opportunity I missed,” she cried. “I didn’t give the Queen my very best!”
The God of creation is worthy of praise, but how many of us give Him our best praise?
Many times while leading worship I have looked out over the congregation and seen people halfheartedly singing praise songs. You can tell by the looks on their faces that they are singing, but they aren’t praising. They are giving God tattered umbrellas, not their best.
Take some time today and recite this Psalm as an offering of praise. Say it with your mouth, but don’t forget to use your heart and spirit. I’m not sure how you can say, “For his unfailing love for us is powerful; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the LORD!” and not be excited!
Praise the Lord!
Today’s Readings: Psalm 117; 119: 81-176; 2 John; 3 John
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