May 20 – Greater love

“To You I shall offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and call upon the name of the Lord. I shall pay my vows to the Lord. Oh, may it be in the presence of all His people, In the courts of the Lord's house, In the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord” - Psalm 116: 17-19

Ever heard the phrase, “Just do it!”? Nike's multi-million dollar advertising campaign made this slogan world famous. Behind this catchphrase are several unspoken exhortations, Forget your excuses. Achieve your goals. Overcome obstacles. Don't let your fears take over. Challenge yourself. Test your limits. “Just do it!”takes our ideas and puts them into action. It's where the rubber meets the road.

But, how does all of this fit in with “praise and worship”? We use this phrase without giving a thought to the true meaning. We discuss it, debate it, write about it, read about it, analyse it, and try to define it. But how often do we, honestly, “Just do it!”

Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote one of the most well-known love poems in the English language. 'Sonnet 43' begins: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach.... Psalm 116 is also an extraordinary expression of love-addressed to God! “How do I love thee, God”?

Praise like this should constantly be in our thoughts and words, because of God's incredible love and goodness to us. Worship is an attitude of our hearts toward God. He's provided for us, protected us – even to the death of His Son Jesus. Through Him we have salvation and eternal life.

Surely all of this gives us enough reason to “Just do it!”

What greater prayer of worship is there than the song of Mary in the NT - Marilla Ness sings, “Holy is His Name” for our music today. Click on the picture to listen.