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No Bull

What God Wants from You

PREVIEW: Your integrity is something that God didn’t create. He created you with the capacity for it. He gives you the courage and the strength to live it out. But at the end of the day, you alone must live a life of integrity. You have to make the difficult choices that are congruent with your deeply held values. You have to resist the temptation to compromise and to gratify your flesh. God can’t do it for you—you must do it. And by your choice of integrity in every dimension of your life, you have recognized God’s sovereign Lordship over all of you. Your integrity is an offering of obedience—something that is always the far better sacrifice (Psalm 51:16-17, 1 Samuel 15:22).

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 50:9

I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens.

To paraphrase King David, God will take no bull from you, but he does want your gratitude!

When it comes to your worship, what you give to God is fine, but he really doesn’t need it. Why? He already has it all. He created it. As the psalmist said, “God owns the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10), so sacrificing a bull or a sheep wasn’t necessary for pleasing him.

But there is something that God didn’t create that he wants very much—your gratitude and your integrity. Psalm 50:14 says, “Make thanksgiving your sacrifice to God and keep the vows you made to the Most High.”

Gratitude is something that you form in your heart as a response to God. It is perhaps the most genuine acknowledgment or recognition of God’s goodness and sovereign Lordship over your life that you can give to God. It is an act of appreciation for what God has done. It is an act of loving obedience that makes your worship genuine. It is an act of faith that recognizes God’s constant and continuing care for you. Thanksgiving shows a heart that truly belongs to God. It is an act of trust so powerful that it accesses God’s desire to be intimately involved in the day-to-day affairs of your life, according to Psalm 50:23.

And here is something else to think about: Thanksgiving catalyzes your integrity. G.K. Chesterton said, “Gratitude is the mother of all the virtues.”

Like gratitude, your integrity is something that God didn’t create. He created you with the capacity for integrity. He gives you the courage and the strength to live out your integrity. But at the end of the day, you alone have to live a life of integrity. You have to make the difficult choices that are congruent with your most deeply held values. You have to resist the temptation to compromise and to gratify your flesh. God can’t do it for you—you have to do it. And when you choose integrity, you have recognized God’s sovereign Lordship over your life. Your integrity is an offering of obedience—something that is always the far better sacrifice (see Psalm 51:16-17, cf. 1 Samuel 15:22).

Now here is the power of integrity: by your consistent uprightness, you have proven the authenticity and depth of your love for God. As Jesus said, “If you love me, you will do what I say.” (John 14:15)

God doesn’t want any bull from you. He wants your heart! The psalm ends with David repeating this again for emphasis, “Giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you my salvation.” (Psalm 50:23, NLT)

Watch your step today. Your integrity is a pleasing offering to God. And take time to be thankful. It reminds you of how good God has been. And it makes him pretty happy, too!

My Offering of Worship: Read Psalm 51:16-17, cf. 1 Samuel 15:22. After you have done that, assess your current level of integrity. Have you made the difficult choices that are congruent with your deeply held values? Have you resisted the temptation to compromise and to gratify your flesh? Have you recognized God’s sovereign Lordship over every area of your life? If not, pray, repent, and receive God’s grace. If you are living a life of integrity, rejoice in God’s grace that accepts your integrity as an offering of obedience.

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You Can’t Take It With You

Hold Your Stuff Loosely

PREVIEW: “You can’t take it with you!” We ought to somehow tattoo that bit of wisdom into our minds, think about it every morning as we head off into the day, and then reflect on it every night as we lay our head down on the pillow. In our culture, as I suspect has been the case in every culture, it is so easy to get caught up in the race to get rich, to have things, to look good, to gain power, to become admired, and to keep up with the proverbial Joneses. But at the end of the day, this truth remains intact: You can’t take it with you.

2023-11-17 You Can't Take It With You - Ray Noah

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 49:16-17

Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.

“You can’t take it with you!” We ought to somehow tattoo that bit of wisdom into our minds, think about it every morning as we head off into the day, and then reflect on it every night as we lay our head down on the pillow. In our culture, as I suspect has been the case in every culture, it is so easy to get caught up in the race to get rich, to have things, to look good, to gain power, to become admired, and to keep up with the proverbial Joneses.

But at the end of the day, this truth remains intact: You can’t take it with you.

There was once a very rich man who knew he was going to die, so he had all his assets converted into gold bars, put the gold in a big bag on his bed, draped his body over the bag, and then he died! When he woke up, he was in heaven at the pearly gate. Saint Peter met him at the gate and, with a concerned look on his face, said, “Well, I see you actually managed to get here with something from earth! That doesn’t happen too often. But unfortunately, you can’t bring that in.”

The man pleaded, “Oh please, I must have it. It means everything to me. It’s my life!”

Saint Peter wasn’t impressed: “Sorry, my friend, if you want to keep that bag, then I’m afraid you’ll have to go to ‘the other place.’ You don’t want to go there, believe me.”

But the man was unchanged, saying, “Well, I won’t part with this bag.”

Peter said, “Have it your way. But before you go, would you mind if I looked in the bag to see what it is that you’re willing to trade eternal life for?”

The man said, “Sure, go ahead. Then you’ll see why I could never part with this.”

Saint Peter looked in the bag, saw the gold bars, and with a puzzled look on his face, said to the man, “You mean you’re willing to go to hell for what we pave our streets with?”

The writers of this psalm said, “This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings…Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them… But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself.” (Psalm 49:13-15)

Make sure to keep that perspective; it will save your life. And do your investing in the only One who will make your efforts count beyond this life for all eternity. As missionary martyr Jim Elliot profoundly noted, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

My Offering of Worship: As an exercise in perspective, grab a pen and some Post-It Notes, then walk through your home and take a gander at your stuff, look into your closet, check out your garage, and if you have a storage unit, go there as well and inventory all the things you are keeping. Then, on each item that will go with you into eternity, place a sticky note that says, “No matter what, hang onto this.” Of course, you get the point. So just let that sink in!

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God’s House

The Physical Place of Worship

PREVIEW: Not only is the body of Christ the Church of the living God, but the church building can and should be very special as well. The physical church is a wonderful place to come and meditate on God’s unfailing love, just as the Tabernacle was to the psalmist thousands of years ago. In light of that, I would encourage you to add a new dimension to your regular routine of worship—as if worship should ever be routine! Not only should you actively fellowship with God’s saints in the church (Hebrews 10:24-25) but make it your practice to slip into your church’s prayer room or sanctuary often for a time of simple solitude and quiet meditation. It can be with other people present, or just go in when you are alone and give it a try . Just sit and soak in the presence of God and quietly reflect on who he is and what he has done.

“The place in which God’s people gather, by virtue of our collective presence, along with the active presence of the Holy Spirit, sanctifies the building we call ‘the church.’”—Ray Noah

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 48:9

Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.

There was something very special to the psalmist about the city of Jerusalem and the Tabernacle that housed the earthly manifestation of the uncontainable presence of the Lord. As you read the rest of Scripture, you will find that God thought it quite special, too.

Of course, the New Testament teaches us that under the new covenant, the Holy Spirit dwells in believers individually (1 Corinthians 6:19) and collectively (1 Corinthians 3:16-17), which means that now we, the body of Christ, are God’s temple, his dwelling place on the earth. Yet there is still something special about the physical place where believers come together to collectively lift their voices in praise, pour out their hearts in prayer, share their love in fellowship, serve one another in kindness, teach God’s anointed Word, and convincingly call the lost to salvation.

Yes, we are the church—let’s not forget or get confused about that. But neither let us forget that the place we gather is also the church and by virtue of our collective presence, along with the active presence of the Holy Spirit, the building becomes sanctified as well. It, too, is God’s temple.

I bring that up to remind us that the physical church is still a wonderful place to come and meditate on God’s unfailing love, just as the Tabernacle was to the psalmist thousands of years ago. In light of that, I would encourage you to add a new dimension to your regular routine of worship—as if worship should ever be routine! Not only should you actively fellowship with God’s saints in the church (Hebrews 10:24-25), but make it your practice to slip into your church’s prayer room or sanctuary often for a time of simple solitude and quiet meditation. It can be with other people present, or just go in when you are alone and give it a try. Just sit and soak in the presence of God and quietly reflect on who he is and what he has done.

Do it often and see if you don’t grow in your appreciation for the house of God, and more importantly, for the unfailing love of the Lord of the church.

My Offering of Worship: As soon as you can, go into your church building, particularly the sanctuary where people gather to worship God, and quietly, meditatively sit. Make room in the sanctuary of your heart for God to dwell. Don’t rush, but simply allow God to speak.

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Sing, Sing, Sing!

When in Doubt, Belt it Out

PREVIEW: It may seem like the world is coming apart at the seams and the things you had counted on for stability, security, and satisfaction in your own life may seem, at best, tenuous. So why not sing? I mean, God is still the King! He still rules over the nations. Nothing that is going on in our world, or in your life, for that matter, has unseated him from his holy throne. The upheaval we are facing on earth hasn’t caused worry, fear, and instability in heaven. Things are going according to plan—so go ahead and sing!

"Your praiseful singing unnerves the god of this age since it reminds him of the unstoppable plan of Almighty God to rid creation of his nefarious presence.”eful singing unnerves the god of this age since it reminds him of the unstoppable plan of Almighty God to rid creation of his nefarious presence.”

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 47:6-8

Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.

From your current view of the world, there may not be much to sing about. The global economy is in shambles, and no one seems to know what to do to un-shamble it. The prospect of lasting peace in the Middle East seems next to impossible, and no one seems to know how to fix it. Terrorism threatens to encircle the planet, and no one seems to know how to stop it. People are scared, confused, and directionless, and no one has an answer.

And the things you had counted on for stability, security, and satisfaction in your own life may seem, at best, tenuous. So why not sing? I mean, God is still the King! He still rules over the nations. Nothing that is going on in our world, or in your life, for that matter, has unseated him from his holy throne. The upheaval we are facing on earth hasn’t caused worry, fear, and instability in heaven. Things are going according to plan—so go ahead and sing!

You might think I am joking, but I’m not. Singing songs of praise is not meant just as a response to God for his goodness in the good times. Singing is an act of faith in challenging times that recognizes a higher reality than the one you see in your horizontal viewfinder: that God is King—he always was, and always shall be.

Go vertical with your gaze once in a while, and you’ll see that God is still in control. Do that as the regular practice of your life, and you will find that you have much to sing about. This is not the proverbial whistling past the graveyard, but an act that not only expresses faith and that not only builds faith, it also becomes an act that actually releases even more faith into your life. Moreover, I think your praiseful singing unnerves the god of this age since it reminds him of the unstoppable plan of Almighty God to rid creation of his nefarious presence.

Want more faith in these troubling times? Need more strength to face your challenges? Want to feel more confident about your future? Sing! Sing! Sing!

That’s what I’m going to do as soon as I finish writing this devotional blog. It is early in the morning; I’m in my study; no one is here but God and me, so here goes:

Our God, is an awesome God;
He reigns, from heaven above with wisdom, power and love.
Our God is an awesome God.

Wow! Suddenly, the world doesn’t seem so scary!

My Offering of Worship: Okay, it’s your turn. So, belt out a song of praise!

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Don’t Get In A Hurry

Be Still … It Still Works

PREVIEW: God’s plans for you, his purposes for the people in your life, his timing in your circumstances, and his design for bringing about justice and vindication in the world around you are in his control—not yours, nor mine. And though frustrating at times, we truly ought to be thankful for that, since we have been spared from the very judgment we long to be poured out on this rotten old world. As the old saying goes, “God may be slow, but he is never late!

“God may be slow, but he is never late!” —Ray Noah

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

Patience is a virtue that defines us as Christian. Patience is one of the character qualities of Christ and, therefore, one that we, too, are called to exercise. The Apostle Paul speaks of patience as one of nine fruits in his list of the fruit of the Spirit.

And, perhaps out of those nine, patience is the most difficult to cultivate in our lives. Arguably, it is more difficult than love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control (well, maybe not self-control). We are easily irritated with people; we get frustrated with ourselves; we fret over circumstances; we are especially impatient with God.

Phillips Brooks, a nineteenth-century New England preacher, was well known for his poise and quiet manner, but at times, suffered moments of frustration and irritability. One day he was feverishly pacing the floor like a caged lion, and someone asked him, “What’s the trouble, Mr. Brooks?”

He said, “The trouble is that I’m in a hurry, but God isn’t!”

Perhaps that’s the greatest frustration of all! We don’t like God’s timing! We get irritated with his slowness! We think he should do things the way we want, and when we want!

When I was a kid, there was an old saint in our church who was fond of saying, “God may be slow, but he’s never late.” That bit of old country wit was not only sound theology; it was sage advice!

God’s plans for you, his purposes for the people in your life, his timing in your circumstances, and his design for bringing about justice and vindication in the world around you are in his control—not yours, nor mine. And though frustrating at times, we truly ought to be thankful for that since we have been spared from the very judgment we long to be poured out on this rotten old world.

This psalm speaks of that time when God will intervene in this world to defend his honor and vindicate his people. But until then, we are called to practice patience—with our circumstances and with God’s timing. We are to be still, trust that God is God, and in due time, he will make the way things ought to be clear to the whole world.

Until then, practicing patience in the daily ordinariness of our lives is really a matter of trust and obedience. And if for no other reason, we ought to develop it since our impatience won’t hurry God’s timing one second.

My Offering of Worship: If you are impatient, become accountable for it with another believer. If you are like me, you know the areas where you tend to be most impatient. Maybe you are quick-tempered with the people around you. Maybe you’re filled with worry or wrestling with depression or anxious about the future. Maybe your impatience is with God because a healing hasn’t occurred, a deliverance hasn’t come, an answer hasn’t materialized. Whatever it is, become accountable for it with a brother or sister in Christ. James 5 says, “Admit your faults to one another, and pray for each other so you can be healed.” Because it is so natural to fall into impatience without realizing it, and it is so easy to justify, you will need someone to hold you accountable for it.

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Prince Charming

An Ancient Recipe for an Awesome Relationship

PREVIEW: We have elevated charisma and charm over character as the key attraction quotient in romantic relationships. The general trend is to put body shapes and bank accounts, personality types and earning potential at the top of the list, while godliness and goodness, inner fortitude, and a committed core are too often ignored. It is personal integrity (“truth”), a balanced view of oneself along with deference to others (”humility”), and godly character (“righteousness”) that we must teach our children and grandchildren to cultivate in themselves and value in their romantic other.

2023-11-03 Prince Charming

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 45:1-4

My heart is overflowing with a beautiful thought! I will write a lovely poem to the King, for I am as full of words as the speediest writer pouring out his story. You are the fairest of all; your words are filled with grace; God himself is blessing you forever. Arm yourself, O mighty one, so glorious, so majestic! And in your majesty go on to victory, defending truth, humility, and justice. Go forth to awe-inspiring deeds!

As you read this song, you will likely recognize that some verses were interpreted and employed by the New Testament writers as the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy. For instance, in Hebrews 1:7-9, referencing Psalm 45:6-7, the writer records that God himself inspired the sons of Korah to foretell of Jesus when they wrote,

Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.

But back in the title of this psalm and you will also see that this is a love song, probably written for a wedding. It’s the ancient Hebrew equivalent to “I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You” or “Colour My World” or “Nothing Compares To You” or, sorry, some other syrupy song we’re forced to endure at wedding after wedding. In the case of this psalm, however, there is nothing syrupy or shallow about it.

In fact, there is something compelling and desperately needful here that we would do well to teach our children as they prepare for marriage. Now I know I am swimming upstream against the overwhelming currents of culture, but perhaps you and I can start a romantic revolution on this one. I hope you will help me—because the fact that we have ignored the message of this psalm in our society has caused, at best, extreme disappointment in many marriages, and at worst, nightmarish relational disasters.

What am I talking about? Simply and sadly this: We have elevated charisma and charm over character as the key attraction quotient in romantic relationships. The general trend is to put body shapes and bank accounts, personality types and earning potential at the top of the list, while godliness and goodness, inner fortitude, and a committed core are too often ignored.

I know, what I’m proposing doesn’t sound very romantic by Hollywood’s standards, but it sure is a great deal more enduring and consistently satisfying. A couple that pays attention to my relational checklist will find something far better than physical and economic attraction: A lifetime of fulfillment and fruitfulness.

Did you notice what the psalmist said made Prince Charming so charming? It was his personal integrity (“truth”), the balanced view he held of himself along with his deference to others (”humility”), and his godly character (“righteousness”). Maybe if we would start teaching our children and grandchildren to value those qualities above all others instead of letting pop culture decide what’s best for them, we could start that romantic revolution!

My Offering of Worship: If you are dating, engaged, fantasizing about your perfect match, raising kids, influencing grandkids, or in a position of mentorship, read this psalm aloud and talk (even if it is to yourself) about the qualities that make a prince or princess so charming.

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Where is the God of Old?

Miracles Are Still Possible!

PREVIEW: If God’s love is indeed unfailing—and it is—then because he is a God who is faithful to his covenant with us, he is still a God of miracles. What that means is we can expect that what he did for his people in the past, he will do for his children today. So, join me as I join another outstanding hero of the faith, Moses, who prayed, “Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory.” (Psalm 90:16) Yes, show us your glory once again, O God! Give us a fresh testimony of your mighty power. May our children speak of what you did in our day. Do it Lord, do it again!

Where is the God of Old?

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 44:1

We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.

We have all heard the great testimonies of what God did in years gone by: How he healed the lame, unstopped the ears of the deaf, opened the eyes of the blind, and even raised the dead. Our grandparents talk of amazing spiritual breakthroughs, missionaries speak of outstanding deliverances from danger, and pillars of the church reminisce of eleventh-hour miracles. Our Bible brings us one story after another of God’s mighty hand working on behalf of his people in the past.

So, I want to know, where is that God? I join with Elisha as he cried out, “Where is the God of Elijah?” (2 Kings 2:14) I am not satisfied with the second-hand stories of what God has done in the past. I want my own stories of what God has done today! So did the Psalmist; that’s why he cried out,

Rise up and help us; redeem us because of your unfailing love. (Psalm 44:26)

If God’s love is indeed unfailing—and it is—then because he is a God who is faithful to his covenant with us, we can expect that what he did for his people in the past, he will do for his children today. So, join me as I join another outstanding hero of the faith, Moses, who prayed,

Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory. (Psalm 90:16)

God, show us your glory once again! Give us a fresh testimony of your mighty power. May our children speak of what you did in our day. Do it, Lord, do it again!

My Offering of Worship: One of the keys to experiencing the miracle-working power of God in our day is found in the Great Commission of Mark 16:17-18, “And those who believe shall use my authority to cast out demons [divine power], and they shall speak new languages [divine communication]. They will be able even to handle snakes with safely, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them [divine protection], and they will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them [divine miracles].” Of course, God is sovereign and can do miracles whenever and wherever he desires, but one of the ways we can put ourselves in the position to experience miracles is to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. In light of that, where can you step out to share the Good News with people who have never heard it before?