The Gospel is Important: It Provokes Us To Praise God

By: Kevin Jones

Praise: The expression of approval or admiration for someone or something. The warm approval of something. 

In a recent sermon by Professor William Branch (preached at Lifeway Black Church Leadership and Family Conference 2023), he posed three questions. Questions when rightly pondered can lead to deep reflection and growth.  

• “If someone caught you in the act of praising, would it look like praiseworthy of the King?”  
• “Are you determined to praise Him?”  
• “Are you looking for ways to magnify His praises?”  

These questions are good for all believers to think about because God requires us to praise Him. Praise affords us an opportunity to focus on God. When praising God, it should shift our focus from the problem to the problem solver. 

We know how to praise. We know how to pay admiration to people. Many of us will praise babies in the nursery for taking a first step, a 4th grader for reading the names of Old Testament prophets correctly, a teen for not falling into the same sin they struggled with the week before, or a father for rejecting passivity and leading courageously. Maybe we praise our favorite athlete or co-worker for a job well done. Acknowledging the accomplishments of others is a good thing! However, none of these come close to God’s praiseworthy acts. One act is having the foresight, care, kindness, and love to share with us His only Son. This is good news. This is gospel news. This is worth praising God for. We should have the deepest admiration for God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Why? Because before we were knit in our mothers’ wombs, God had already set a plan in place to save us. 

“If someone caught you in the act of praising, would it look like praise worthy of the King?” Psalm 100:1 (CBS) tells us to “Let the whole earth shout triumphantly to the Lord!” The specific focus is on a verbal response to the goodness of the Lord. This may come in the form of singing around the table, in the car alone, collective worship with others, or humming a tune on an assembly line while at work. We should sing praises unto Him. There should be an audible component to show our affection and admiration for God. This type of praise is not a one-time event. This way of praising God is a way of life. Praise does not have to be a song. Praise can be a word or praise. Most of our vocabulary is full of words for showing admiration. We just do not use the words towards God. If you are short of words or phrases, try some of these: “How great is your goodness” (Psalm 31:19); “My lips will glorify you because your faithful love is better than life. So I will bless you as long as I live; at your name, I will lift up my hands” (Psalm 63:3-4). Be determined to ask a friend this week what verses encourage them to praise God. 

“Are you determined to praise Him?” Wilma Rudolph, an African American sprinter, knew all about determination. She was born prematurely, had polio, and wore a brace on her leg until about 12. However, she went on to win countless bronze and gold medals in several Olympic games. In the 1960s she was the fastest woman in the world. So, how did she overcome such difficulties in life? She was determined. Determined not to allow any illness to keep her from running. What if we are as determined to praise God as she was running? What if–in the midst of ongoing pain, suffering, and trials–we are determined to praise God? Or when we don’t feel like praising, we keep our eye on an imperishable reward. If we are determined to praise, we will reap the benefits. Praise takes the attention from the situation to the situation solver. Today, make every effort to praise God amid whatever may be going on, whether it be peril or peace. 

“Are you looking for ways to magnify His praises?” My ten-year-old is into necklaces, rings, and bracelets. Recently, she lost a few of her rings. She asked everyone in the house about those rings, and we even began to assist her in looking for them. After some time, they were found. This brings a few things to mind. Ask others to assist you in looking for ways in your life that God has been good to you and things He has done that should make you want to magnify His name. When this happens, you are sure to find ways to magnify His name. Sit. Think. Look. 

If we are determined to praise, we need to know who to praise and then magnify His name. The Bible says in Psalm 145:1 (CSB), “I exalt you, my God the King, and bless your name forever and ever.” This Scripture reminds us, first, who we are praising. He is God and King, which is a sweet reminder that our praise, affection, and loyalty are due to Him. We need to praise Him for how He takes care of us in this life and for the gospel that gives us unity and peace with Him. God Rules. God Provided. Jesus Gives. We Praise. 

Kevin M. Jones serves as the Dean of the School of Education and Social Work at Cedarville University. He also serves as the Managing Editor for The Gospel Project with Lifeway. He is a lay pastor at St John’s Missionary Baptist Church in Springfield, Ohio. He began his career as a first-grade teacher and has taught in various K–12 and post-secondary settings. Some of his recent publications are a chapter in, “Growing With One Another: Social and Emotional Learning in Christian Perspectives”, “Jesse Owens: A Life in American History”, and “Perspectives on Family Ministry, Second Edition”. He and his high school sweetheart, Demica, have three children: Kennedi, Kevin Jr, and Karsynn.