Greatly to Be Praised

written by Jonathan Waggett, Worship Pastor (June 4, 2023)

My wife and I spent the last several days in western NC to celebrate her birthday and a friend's wedding. While there, we took every opportunity to spend time soaking in the majesty of the mountains. If you know me well, you know that the beach calls my name routinely. But the mountains are always an incredible sight to behold. There's just something about experiencing how vast and great and large the mountains (and the ocean) are - it certainly helps you more rightly see yourself. Moments when we realize just how small and finite we are allows us to get a glimpse of the greatness of Creator God.

And while taking a trip to the beach or the mountains or some other world wonder is certainly helpful for us to reflect upon God's greatness as we admire the created, we can experience this each and every day. Look around. You can see His greatness as revealed in general revelation through all creation - great and small. But we don't have to stop there. We shouldn't stop there.

God has revealed Himself to us through Jesus - the Word made flesh and dwelt among us. And we have the entirety of Scripture available to us! Some people groups throughout history (and even today) only experienced general revelation of God through creation. The Good News of Jesus that we possess is God's special revelation to us. This was actually preached today as we began our Summer in the Psalms series. If you missed it (as I also did since I was driving home), be sure visit our watch messages page to view the sermon and discussion guide.

I encourage you to spend time reflecting on God's greatness. Meditate on His Word - maybe even outdoors to behold special and general revelation all at once! I'll leave you with some passages of Scripture and a song to assist you in your time with the Lord.

There is none like You, O Lord;
You are great, and great is Your name in might. - Jeremiah 10:6

For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods. - Psalm 96:4

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. - 1 Chronicles 29:11

Lift up your eyes on high
And see who has created these stars,
The One who leads forth their host by number,
He calls them all by name;
Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power,
Not one of them is missing. - Isaiah 40:26

‘Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You. - Jeremiah 32:17

The Lord has done great things for us;
We are glad. - Psalm 126:3