In Hope of a Heart that Loves God

In Hope of a Heart that Loves God

Good Morning Friends,

Praise of God changes things because it is a confirmation of our hope in the eternal. In meditating on today’s psalm it draws my mind not just to creation but also in praise of the twilight of time. It draws my attention to the inherent sacredness and enduring hope of every place we walk when we walk with Jesus. It draws my attention to our call as transcendent beings to the heavenly world. It draws my attention to God’s questions for Job and the reality that even though I do not understand it all, I can still praise God for the joy that the earth is the Lord’s and In Hope of a Heart that Loves God.

Scripture: Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host! Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created. He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed. Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!  Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!  Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!  Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and women alike, old and young together! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 148:1-14 (NRSV)

The Lord said, “Indeed, the whole earth is mine.”

Exodus 19:5 (NRSV)

“‘Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy?”

Job 38:4-7 (NRSV)

Message: This morning I want us to think for a while about what it means to love God – what Jesus called the most important commandment. It is not so easy to describe. Still our universal praise of all creation is indeed a sign of hope that we might grasp something about this love and how we have been created. Here we ask God how he wants to grow us – change and shape our characters to make us more like Jesus. As a backdrop for this exercise we meditate on today’s scripture, a Song of Creation which itself in a way is also a meditation on Genesis 1 and it is interestingly is I think connected with our experience of Christmas. The scripture is a song of praise of the cosmos that frees us when it grows hot with our musings about grand things but also as Jesus taught us; delight in the little things as well. It is an environmentalist’s psalm with an imperative appeal that we not exalt ourselves above God. The psalm rejoices with praise in the wisdom and glory of the Lord who has made such a wonderful world. It calls us to worship the Creator. But it is also about the light of creation and Christmas. Amazingly the moon, the stars and the sun are placed just so creation can blossom; and so too the Son’s actions in creation placed so spiritual life might blossom. As the body of believers, the choir, we gather together to do the work assigned to us to sing in harmony. We are called, in fact everything that has breath has been summoned out of darkness to praise the Lord. This experience of the love of God is poured out through the Holy Spirit. It is supernatural hope that does not disappoint. It endures from the beginning of creation to the end of time. Not only can we gaze upon the mighty acts of His creation. We read what God has done for His people from Genesis through Revelation, we can rejoice in the fact that these mighty acts were done that we might know whom we serve and what He is capable of doing for His people. This again brings us great peace as we reflect upon them and the hope we find when we have a heart that loves God. And here between the dangers of self-denial and self-indulgence there is the path of the passion of a lover’s quest. The joyful pain of loving devotion. Friends we were made to love God. Never forget why we were created.

Pray with praise for God’s good creation. Pray we are good stewards too worthy of praise. Pray His glory not be concealed by the clouds of human sin. Pray we lament that no person save One, has used his whole being in praise of God. Pray even now, that we have the right motives. Pray we sing praises for all His creation in harmony throughout all eternity even into a new creation. Pray we honor God’s creation with continual praises. Pray we heed His call in the hope of love. Pray we realize that we too walk on Holy Ground when we have Jesus in our hearts. Pray we understand we are to worship the Creator but honor as good stewards His creatures and creation. Pray God call us and proclaim the Spirit’s rule in us, the wind of wisdom to guide us. Pray with praise for the Lord and this glorious creation magnifying hope. Pray our hearts be right with God. Pray we devote ourselves to knowing Him and loving Him with all of our mind, body and spirit. Pray we are not stuffed with the things of the world. Pray we find hope in being hungry for God. Pray we realize that our hearts will always be restless until we find the hope and rest in a divine relationship that grows in love. Pray this season we be as a choir of angels singing to announce the coming of the hope of all creation.

Blessings,

John Lawson