When praise is natural

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Nehemiah 5:14–7:73a 
1 Corinthians 8:1-13 
Psalm 33:1-11 
Proverbs 21:8-10

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Psalm 33:1 (ESV) "Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Did you know that there is a difference between giving thanks to God and offering praise to Him? 

Essentially, we thank God for what He has done and we praise Him for who He is. 

Thanksgiving focuses on God's actions. Praise focuses on God's essence.

When we read our Verse for Today, we hear the Psalmist say that praising God "befits the upright." That means that it is absolutely appropriate, even expected, for the upright to praise the Lord.

Essentially, that means that when someone is a God-follower and comes to a greater understanding of who He is and how wonderful He is, it is only natural to expect that person to praise God.

This past summer, my family went to the Grand Canyon. We determined to go because my wife (who is the only one in our family who has been there) told us we would enjoy it. When we arrived and saw the breathtaking view, it was only natural to gawk. It was only natural that we smiled. It was only natural that we expressed our amazement at the views to each other.

That's what the Psalmist is saying. Someone who has come to a greater understanding of how wonderful God is will naturally express it in the activity of praise. 

So, we can also draw the opposite conclusion: Someone who doesn't praise God hasn't really come to know Him and enjoy Him.

This, my friend, is definitely something to think about.