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Daily Devotion: Psalm 96:5-9

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Psalm 96:5-9    "For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.  (6)  Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.  (7)  Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.  (8)  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.  (9)  O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth."

What is my idol? Do I have anything that I place more importance upon than my relationship with the Lord?  What silly questions, right?  Why would anyone place more importance on anything rather than trusting the Lord?  No clear thinking, blood-bought, Spirit-born child of God would place anything before the Lord as far as importance. Would we?  What do I mostly think about during the day? Let me reword it. How much time during the day do I spend with my heart and mind upon the Lord? These might be considered as silly questions, but they are legitimate if we really think about it.

The Psalmist is reminding us to do as the Apostle Paul tells us: : "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  (2)  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:1-2) Does this mean that we sit around 24 hours a day with our thoughts on God? It would be a better world in which to live if we did, but it isn't practical to think we would do that.  I understand it to mean that we are to give God the credit for those blessings we enjoy each day. We should give God the honor when we find ourselves in situations where we got through a situation "by the skin of our teeth". We need to seek His guidance in making decisions each day. And we definitely should seek the blessing of His forgiveness when we fail to do the right thing.  We are to give God proper consideration in our lives.

Why is that?  He tells us in our verses for today. The answer is found over and over in the Bible: "The Lord made the heavens."  That's a simple statement, isn't it?  Yet, there are so many who have tried to rob God of His glory by thinking this universe and all that is in it was made by accident (big bang when two objects collided) or that it "just happened." There is no way that anything that operates in such a constant, orderly, concise, precise manner as this wonderful universe just "simply happened by accident."  When people began to buy into the big bang and evolution theory of creation, their estimation of God began to decrease. That's a fact. The truth is given to us in the Word of God. It was the very power and wisdom of God that created this universe and He has given us access to that power if we place our confidence in Him.

We will see a great difference in this world if we return to the place where God is given honor and His majestic greatness is considered. When we give glory to His name and present ourselves to Him for service, there is a greater sense of peace in our lives. When we enter into that sanctuary of worship and praise before the Lord, there is strength in our lives to face the circumstances of life.  There is a beauty that is seen both in our lives and in that which we call nature when we give God the proper consideration in our lives.  Lord, help me not to place more importance on anything than that which I place upon you. 

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