Psalm 66:16-17
Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul. I cried to Him with my mouth, and He was extolled with my tongue. (ESV)
The psalmist said we should share, with the saints, all that the Lord has done for our soul, and how He has answered our heartfelt prayers. We should share what God has done in our hearts, in our way of life, in how we see life, and how we live life. He is not talking about our material possessions. We cannot take material things with us into the next world. No, he means what has God done for you inside? Not as a measure of godliness on our own part, but rather to show the faithfulness of God.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” Sharing what the Lord has done for us has great positive reinforcements in our spiritual walk. Sharing what the Lord has done, brings remembrance of what we have been through. We have been delivered from death, and bondage. Do you remember what life was like before you came to life in Jesus? Do you remember the uncertainty in life? Were you inhibited by fear, depression, or feelings of quilt and fear? What sins beset you? How were you tied up with the superficial? How selfish were you?
Now the security of the sure foundation in Jesus Christ brings peace and joy that no matter what happens in life, God (Jesus) is in control. Knowing that the Lord chose from the foundation of the world to provide a way for you to be with Him. Knowing that you don’t need to be good enough to earn you way to please Him. Your salvation was bought by the blood of the Lamb of God. These are the things we should share. No one really cares if you got a new car. No what did God really DO for you? How did Jesus change YOUR life?
The changes brought in our life encourages fellow believers. Looking at the changes God has made in my life are important to me keeping my motivation to take up my cross. You know sometimes it feels like I haven’t made progress. Sometimes I feel defeated when I see others who don’t believe in Christ doing so well. However, listening to others who have already been where I am, or have been, and seeing where God has blessed them for being faithful and serving Him in their daily life and I receive encouragement. Hearing where they once were and now seeing their spiritual maturity in the Lord reinforces my desire to seek the Lord daily. Hearing how God has been faithful to another believer, reminds me that He is still in charge of my life also.
I have been through periods of rejection, and humiliation because I stood up for Jesus. I have been abandoned by friends, I have been rejected by loved ones. During those times, the Lord sent me another saint, someone who had been through the feelings of isolation. They encouraged me and lifted me in prayer. They gave me living examples of the Lords provisions I their life. Why do you think that Paul says we are not to forsake the gathering of one another?
To extol is to praise something or someone very much. Another way to understand this is to say that He (God) was greatly praised by me. Allot of times when someone gives a good reference to someone about someone who helped them they say, “I just couldn’t say enough good things about him.” This is the same meaning. As sharing the great things the Lord has done for us, we should vividly express our gratitude. Genuine heartfelt gratitude is hard to hide. The simple honesty in a gracious awareness of the sacrifice and love that God has shown towards your is what God wants from you. He wants you to love and appreciate Him, as He loves and appreciates you.
Expressing that to someone else, another believer, should be as easy as bragging about your mom or your dad. I remember when I was in grade school all the kids would boast about how their dads could beat up all the other dads. Boy we were proud of our dads. They made us feel secure. We know nothing could hurt us along as dad was nearby. Well now you have a Father that can literally move mountains, part the seas, command the stars, and appoint kings over nations! Amen! Get out there and tell somebody what God has done for YOU!
The Way of Christ Ministries 