Right Response
Originally scheduled for September 10
It is a rare thing to encounter a gray fox in
the western United States. They are indeed beautiful creatures,
noted for a long, full tail. My wife and I encountered one at a
roadside park while on vacation. It was early in the evening which
is apparently the best time of day to hunt for mice. We tried not to
get too close and frighten the animal, but watched it from a
distance.
As we were leaving the park, chatting about the
fox, a couple came riding in on rather loud motorcycles. We stopped
them, explained that there was a gray fox over there and invited
them to take a look quietly. They immediately silenced their
motorcycles and walked delicately over to where the fox was. They,
like us, had the right response to seeing a rare and beautiful
animal. It is natural for the human being to admire such a thing. It
is also right for the human being to praise the Creator of such
things. If you admire the works of the Lord, then you should be
willing to give praise for the worker who gave them to you.
In the matter of praise we may take our example
here from King David. At the end of his life he has provided the
material that Solomon will need to build the temple. When it is
clear that nothing now stands in the way, David praises God in these
three ways.
·
He praises God for his eternal nature
— unchanging, and therefore constantly to be relied upon.
·
He praises God for his perfection,
his perfect greatness, power and glory.
·
He praises God for his care for his
people.
May I suggest to you that communion deserves
this same kind of praise? It reflects God’s nature as well as being
his creation.
·
By his eternal nature, we know that
the offer of grace will not be withdrawn until the time set for it.
·
By his perfection, we know that there
are no hidden items in his grace, but rather all is displayed so
that you might know the nature of grace.
·
And it is a reflection of his eternal
love, shown on the cross, and now symbolized in the bread and the
vine of communion.
It is the right response of mankind to admire
the work done at Calvary, to be grateful for it and to praise its
architect as He rightly deserves. Communion is an act of praise for
the God who came among us, and sacrificed himself for us. It is
praise as well as remembrance.she was bored you
