I remember visiting a college campus, and I accidentally walked into a press conference. They were announcing a new basketball coach.
The athletic director, speaking to the new coach, applauded him for his past record, relationships with his players, gritty-yet-genuine coaching philosophy, and desire to see his players succeed in life and not just basketball. He was just kinda gushing.
The athletic director’s words, however, were not meant for the coach’s ears only. Others in attendance, as well as media and their audiences, would hear such praise and appreciate the basketball program with greater confidence.
The athletic director had obviously orchestrated a press conference before.
Psalm 96:2 says, “Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.” When we make music to God and sing to him, sometimes we tell him how wonderful his works are to us.
How vivid the colors of the flowers. How intricate the patterns of butterfly wings he designed. How incredible that the eye can see and that stars fill the sky. How people have been healed miraculously, or through the divinely provided means of normal medicine.
But chief among God’s work is saving people from sin’s curse, from death’s finality, and from the devil’s lies.
Salvation. Specifically, “his salvation,” according to Psalm 96 which means God designs it and dispenses it as he pleases. We know that, and thank him for making us part of it.
So, we sing to God that he has saved us. Sounds like informing a basketball coach of his own record. What’s the point?
Well, we can’t help but keep gushing about how amazing the saving grace of God is, we’re so thankful, and like the basketball coach we know others are listening. We want them to be in awe of God, too!
PRAYER: I want to sing, God, with more joy, more faith, more awe and appreciation. Forgive my distracted singing or my muted words that think more about other people and things than you. Fill me with your Spirit of truth to engage more fully with your salvation and express what it means to me. Amen.
SING RIGHT NOW: At CrossLife Church we select songs that focus most often on these four truths of salvation: 1) God’s holiness, 2) humanity’s sinfulness, 3) the saving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that redeems all people, and 4) believing that this amazing gift of God’s grace changes our lives now and forever. Like this one.