Each month we’ll be hearing from one of our Regional Ministers, to encourage us along the way as we continue empowering missional disciples in our communities across the West of England.
Declaring God’s excellences—there’s nothing greater than that.
One of the great purposes of our existence, the primary reason we are here on earth is to declare God’s praises with the people of God to the world around. We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a people belonging to God (1 Peter 2:9-11), that we may declare God’s praises.
Throughout 1 Peter 2 the ‘you’ is plural not singular. It is God’s call to ‘us’ as the people of God to make Christ known. It is the prime purpose of the church to be a thankful, missional people.
We must praise and thank God for His goodness to us. Remember the 10 lepers that Jesus healed and only one of them came back to thank Jesus. We must not be like the nine.
We must proclaim the excellencies of our great God. As Psalm 105:1-3 declares: “Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.”
Why are we here on this earth? We are here to declare God’s praises. It’s so easy to think that we’re here to enjoy the good things of this life. God may have some of those good things for some of us. But God has placed us here on this earth to declare His praises with other Christians in whatever situation we find ourselves in.
Our whole lives should be about declaring God’s praises. John Calvin writes: “It behoves us to declare these excellencies not only by our tongue, but also by our whole life … that His glory may be proclaimed by us.” This is affirmed in Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
DO YOU LIVE SO THAT YOU DECLARE GOD’S PRAISES?
This is our great purpose in life – this should be our great aim in life – to praise God and proclaim His excellence and love to those around us.
As the hymn states:
“To God be the glory,
Great things He has done.
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son.
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin.
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord.
Let the earth hear His voice.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord.
Let the people rejoice.
Come to the Father. Through Jesus the Son.
Give Him the glory. Great things He has done.”
Gary Woodall
Regional Minister