Key Verse: Psalm 96:1-13, "1 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. 4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. 9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his[a] holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. 11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. 12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. 13 Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness."
What's the difference between the burrito at your favorite Mexican restaurant and the shady microwaveable ones you buy by the bag-full from the freezer section of your local grocery store? It's the same exact difference between a feature length movie released in theaters and a bootlegged version downloaded from the web. There's just something different about the real thing isn't there?
More often than not, the authentic original article is worth the extra money, time or energy that separates it from a knock-off variety. Whether it's clothes, cars, or food, the real thing earns our praise while the sub-par versions usually serve as a punch line in a joke.
God is the same way. What? Seriously...Keep reading.
Read Psalm 96:1-13. It immediately becomes obvious that the psalm is an amazing testimony of praise of God. The Israelites lived in a world much like ours in at least one significant way: They were surrounded by a culture that embraced multiple gods and religions. So, in a way, the psalmist was saying that God was worthy to be praised because He is the real thing! Not some impostor, God really is "the God who made the heavens." God is righteous and will judge the nations. Because of this, the psalmist says He is "most worthy of praise." (verse 4).
Part of following Christ is living your life in such a way that you are constantly giving praise to God. Your actions, words, inner thoughts, and outward emotions should reflect a worldview that is influenced by your love for God and for His Son. When you live this way, you will actually lead others to recognize God's greatness.
Your life can be a testimony to God's glory. After all, He's the real deal, worth every bit of your praise and service.
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