June 12
Back to the Basics
Jesus answered … “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures, ‘You have taught children and babies to sing praises?’”
Matthew 21:16c (NCV)
On your feet now—applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence. Know this: God is God, and God, God. He made us; we didn’t make him. We’re his people, his well-tended sheep. Enter with the pass-word: “Thank you!” Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him. For God is sheer beauty, all generous love, loyal always and ever.
Psalm 100 (the Message)
After a particularly disappointing midseason loss to a team the Green Bay Packers were heavily favored to win. Coach Lombardi gathered his players in the locker room. It was deathly quiet as the players realized they were about to receive another tongue-lashing from their coach. Lombardi slowly turned to face the team. In a stern voice he said, "Men, in all my days of coaching and playing I have never witnessed such a poor exhibition of football. We did not tackle, run, throw or catch the way you have been taught. Starting now we are going to begin with the basics." With that, he pulled out a football and held it in front of him. “Men,” he said, “this is a football.”
After a couple of seconds of silence, all-pro middle linebacker Ray Nitschke raised his hand, “Coach,” he said, “could you go a little slower?”1
Do you feel like one of these Green Bay Packers? You should be winning, but you’re not? Perhaps God has blessed you in wonderful ways, but you’re not thankful and you are not excited? Maybe you don’t feel motivated … to pray, to read the Bible, to live for Him?
May I suggest you return to the basics? Entering His presence with thanksgiving and praising Him for His greatness is the surest way to reset your focus and sense His joyful presence.
Jesus understood this completely; the psalmist knew it well; you can experience it, too … right now!
Father, Accept our gifts of praise and thanksgiving. Fill us with the wonder of Your goodness. Amen.
1 Steve Sonderman, How to Build a Life-Changing Men’s Ministry (Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany House, 1996), p.83.
Back to the Basics
Jesus answered … “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures, ‘You have taught children and babies to sing praises?’”
Matthew 21:16c (NCV)
On your feet now—applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence. Know this: God is God, and God, God. He made us; we didn’t make him. We’re his people, his well-tended sheep. Enter with the pass-word: “Thank you!” Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him. For God is sheer beauty, all generous love, loyal always and ever.
Psalm 100 (the Message)
After a particularly disappointing midseason loss to a team the Green Bay Packers were heavily favored to win. Coach Lombardi gathered his players in the locker room. It was deathly quiet as the players realized they were about to receive another tongue-lashing from their coach. Lombardi slowly turned to face the team. In a stern voice he said, "Men, in all my days of coaching and playing I have never witnessed such a poor exhibition of football. We did not tackle, run, throw or catch the way you have been taught. Starting now we are going to begin with the basics." With that, he pulled out a football and held it in front of him. “Men,” he said, “this is a football.”
After a couple of seconds of silence, all-pro middle linebacker Ray Nitschke raised his hand, “Coach,” he said, “could you go a little slower?”1
Do you feel like one of these Green Bay Packers? You should be winning, but you’re not? Perhaps God has blessed you in wonderful ways, but you’re not thankful and you are not excited? Maybe you don’t feel motivated … to pray, to read the Bible, to live for Him?
May I suggest you return to the basics? Entering His presence with thanksgiving and praising Him for His greatness is the surest way to reset your focus and sense His joyful presence.
Jesus understood this completely; the psalmist knew it well; you can experience it, too … right now!
Father, Accept our gifts of praise and thanksgiving. Fill us with the wonder of Your goodness. Amen.
1 Steve Sonderman, How to Build a Life-Changing Men’s Ministry (Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany House, 1996), p.83.
posted by Craig Soderquist at 7:19 AM
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