I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. (Psalm 34:1-3, NIV)
Certain courses around the world cause golfers’ eyes to go whirly, and probably more so when we have never been. As a Californian, I’ve had my opportunities to step onto the property and tee it up at several places others of you have only seen on TV or in photo books. But my East Coast list is thin, and my international list woefully so. I’d welcome the chance to stand on some of those tees, too, my eyes filled with awe at what is before me.
Awe is not worship, but it sure can lead to it. When we suppress vertigo on the edge of the Grand Canyon or watch the eruption of Old Faithful, we start to ask the big questions: Who made all this? What does this Maker deserve from me?
If we take up central practices in worship, really investing in them, we will see God better today.The answer, you likely know, is worship. When we understand the excellence of achievement—and perhaps the story behind what it took to get there—we give an athlete or actor or musician our expressions of appreciation. We clap and cheer. From some, the words that pour from their mouths about these accomplishments and those who pull them off are indeed worship—an exalting of the hero as though none were greater.
But one is greater. One is greatest. And there is never a time when we reflect on God and his workmanship, or his character and the gifts that arise from it, that we think, That’s pretty good. If that’s where you land when you think of God, you have more thinking to do.
So worship starts there—with our view of God. This view will always be tainted by the self-seeing sinfulness that would draw us from him by disturbance or despair. But if we take up central practices in worship, really investing in them, we will see God better today. And when we come to him tomorrow, we will do so from a better starting place.
What are those key practices? The reading of Scripture, where God’s grandness is revealed over and over. The hearing and singing of rich songs, which helps to allow the wonders of God’s person and supply to “catch on” and go with us throughout the week. And the praying of prayers of adoration, where we thank and praise God for his uniquely excellent qualities.
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Jeff Hopper
July 3, 2020
Copyright 2020 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
OTHER DEVOTIONS IN THIS SERIES
Kingdom Investments 1: ‘Well Done’
Kingdom Investments 3: Righteousness
Kingdom Investments 4: Justice
Kingdom Investments 5: Mercy
Kingdom Investments 6: Faithfulness
Kingdom Investments 7: Friendships