[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Psalm 98:1,3-6

“Sing a new song to the Lord!” Psalm 98:1)

Yes, sing! Sing joyfully. Sing joy, fully. God has done wonder­ful things in the past year—things we will know completely only when we are with him in heaven. Still, we can sing joyfully because we know he is all-good, all the time. He is all-wise and all-loving. Even though we don’t always see what he is doing, we know it is good and loving and wise. So sing! Sing thankfully, boldly, with all the praise and joy you can muster.

Sing joyfully about what you hope and expect him to do this new year. God has plans for your life. No matter what age you are, it’s never too late for the good things he has in store for you. Ask him for a new song—a word, or phrase, or Scripture passage, or even a real song—to give you direction for the year. He is the Good Shepherd, who loves and leads you. He will guide you in the paths he has planned for you and give you a new song to sing along the way.

Sing aloud, yes, but don’t limit yourself to what your voice can do. Sing with your pen. Write down what you want to praise the Lord for. Jot down your hopes, dreams, desires for this year. Sing with your paint brush—paint your praise, joy, and thanksgiving. Sing with your musical instrument or your feet. Dance, as David did before the ark of the Lord (2 Samuel 6:5,16). We are wonderfully made, so we can praise the Lord in song or with any of the other talents he has given us.

What do you love to do? Do it intentionally today, as a way to express your joy, praise, and awe of the Lord. As you begin, tell the Lord, “This is for you, God!” And “Beloved, we are God’s children!” —1 John 3:2 if you find it too difficult, ask the Holy Spirit to put a new song in your heart. Ask him for a song that is not there now, one that perhaps has never been there. You are cre­ated to sing before the Lord. Be expectant. He will teach you what to do and how to do it!

“Father, you are wonderful and loving and kind. Fill me with a new song today, a song of joy and hope.”

1 John 2:29–3:6; John 1:29-34

[Salvation]

A Christian Pilgrim

THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS

I

 know from past experiences, especially when I am most weak and powerless, what instantaneous help and power there is for me if I pronounced the name of Jesus reverently and confidently. Jesus is ever ready to cooperate with me if I but resolve to cooperate with Him for my redemption and salvation. The name of the Living God “made flesh” when I appeal to it makes contact with the inexhaustible resources of God as: 

1.     My Physician. In these days of universal need, He, my beloved and most powerful physician, is ever at my beck and call.

2.     My Master. Jesus owns me, body and soul, by many titles – that of Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier – yet He daily acts so often as my Servant,

3.     My Counselor. “I shall be with you all days.” He promised it; He is true to that promise. I can always consult Him.

4.     My Judge. “I would rather be judged by Christ than by my own mother,” said a saintly soul.

5.     My Lover. All that I am, all that I have and see, all are love-tokens to me from Jesus, my Lover – ‘by whom were all things made, and without Him was made nothing that was made.” 

Short Prayer: Dearest Jesus, let me carefully preserve Your sacred Name in my heart, that it may ever be inflamed with the fire of Your divine love. Let me ever remember that in all my weaknesses, in all my sorrows and failures, I possess a saving remedy in the holy Name of Jesus. Amen. 

Adapted from A THOUGHT A DAY, pages 6-7