1 Praise the LORD.

      Praise the name of the LORD;
     praise him, you servants of the LORD,
2 you who minister in the house of the LORD,
     in the courts of the house of our God.

3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
     sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.
4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob to be his own,
     Israel to be his treasured possession.

5 I know that the LORD is great,
     that our Lord is greater than all gods.

Psalm 135:1-5 (NIV)

God is so good. Rejoice that you know his name and he knows yours. God is so worthy of our praise. Those who serve in our houses of worship need to lead the way in the worship of our God, but don’t wait for them if they don’t. Praise the Lord, your God.

Just how good is our God? He has chosen us to be his own. He first chose the house of Jacob, Israel, to call his own. Later through Jesus Christ, he called the rest of us who will receive him and grafted us into his wonderful family. In spite of our unworthiness, he has called us to be his own.

The fifth verse reminds us that our God isn’t just another god, he is THE GOD, the one and only true God. All others are impostors. Don’t let anyone try to tell you that all religions lead to the same place, or that they are all basically the same. If you believe that lie, you cannot believe the Bible at the same time.

• Read the first Commandment: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.  You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3-4 NIV)
• Read Jesus’ words: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NIV)

This is one basic ingredient of the Christian faith that cannot be compromised. You believe God and Jesus Christ his Son, or you don’t.

To know God (Jesus) is to love him. Show him your love through praise.

Almighty and most glorious God, your name is to be praised above all others. May our worship and praise flow from the depths of our hearts, minds, and souls whenever we think of you.

Copyright © 2008 by Janice Green

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.