Commentary on "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow"

COLLEEN TINKER

 

Day 5: Wednesday, March 31, 2010

 

Overview

This lesson focuses on praising God. It opens with an Ellen White quote instead of Scripture: “Be joyful in God. Christ is light, and in him is no darkness at all. Look toward the light. Accustom yourselves to speak the praise of God. Make others happy. This is your first work. It will strengthen the best traits of character. Throw the windows of the soul wide open heaven-ward, and let the sunshine of Christ’s righteousness in. Morning, noon, and night your hearts may be filled with the bright rays of heaven’s light.”

And this question follows, “How can you take these words and make them a reality in your own life?”

The lesson continues by exhorting the reader to praise God for His blessings and ends with the observation that before we can sincerely praise, we have to experience the reality of God’s love for us. It asserts that “it is only our stubborn hearts and carnal natures that keep us from knowing for ourselves the goodness and love of God.”

 

Observations

The opening quote from Ellen White reveals the underlying reliance on her writings for direction and understanding. The Bible never identifies making others happy as our God-given “work”. Rather, the Bible says, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” (John 6:29).

Moreover, praise to God is not primarily a discipline brought about by deciding to do it. First one must actually have something about which to praise God—and unless one knows Him, praise is just an exercise of the will.

Again, knowing Jesus by His own indwelling Spirit is the way we are alive to God and aware of our praise and gratitude toward Him. We do not learn to live in an attitude of praise and thanksgiving without first being made alive by Him. Deciding one wants to “do right” and praise God is not what makes one alive to Him.

We must repent and receive the Lord Jesus as our Savior and Substitute; then we can genuinely praise Him.

Knowing Jesus is the first requirement to being able to praise God.

 

Summary

1. Ellen White’s quote to start the lesson reveals Adventism’s dependence on her writings.
2. Making others happy is never identified in Scripture as our “first work”.
3. Believing in the Lord Jesus is identified as “the work of God” (John 6:29).
4. True praise to God is not possible unless one is born of the Spirit.
5. Repentance and receiving Jesus as Savior and Substitute is what is necessary. When we have the actual life of Jesus in us, then we can praise Him in truth.

 

GO TO DAY 6

 

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