How many Sunday's did we sing this at church?
More than I care to count, but the sad part is that the Doxology became a ritual. It became something that we did without really thinking about. Let me rephrase that....it became ritual to me. I said the words....I hit the right notes...but my heart was not bound to the words.
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen".
Written in 1674 by Thomas Ken, an priest in the Church of England, the words above are the most widely recognized "doxology" or praise to God. A declaration of faith directed toward God, doxology is found throughout the scripture. It is, what I would call, an encapsulated praise service within itself.
In Acts 16:25, we read about Paul and Silas being locked in a jail. They have been beaten and flogged by the authorities for "insurrection" for preaching the gospel. They have been placed in the inner cells to be guarded and not allowed to escape. They have had their feet placed in stocks to insure their incarceration. But no man can confine the spirit. No man can stop praises and worship of Almighty God. That is what Paul and Silas did there in the most miserable of places a human could be. They prayed and they "Doxologized" to God. There in the darkness of this prison, something took place that I am pretty sure had never happened before. A worship service broke out. Scripture tells us that the other prisoners were listening to what was going on (Acts 16:25). Sometimes our praises to God spill over and affect those around us as we worship. They are brought into the circle of God's presence by our actions. They are brought in, and find themselves coming under the influence of God's Holy Spirit.
As the men continued in their praise service, a funny thing happened. An earthquake broke out and shook the foundation of the prison. The walls of the prison did not fall. The roof didn't cave in. But the doors to the cells flew open and all who were prisoners had their chains fall off. A pretty intense example of what happens when we worship and "doxologize" Jesus. We are set free from the things that are trying to hold us in bondage. Praising God in the bad times is really not the norm for our culture, but it truly goes to God's heart when we learn this example. Praising God for who He is and for what He has done for us is important and helps to keep me grounded in the reality of who I am in Christ.
Here is something that I believe every follower of Jesus is called to do:
1.) Know the Word of God
2.) Know the God of the Word
3.) Learn to incorporate worship to God in our daily lives.
Learn to "doxologize" to God! You might be surprised as to what happens when you.
God on you...
mb
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