Psalm 34:1
I will bless The Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth…
DAILY READING – Hebrews 9:1-22; Exodus 6:28-8:32; Proverbs 2
One of the greatest stories in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs is the story of Polycarp. After the account of St. Stephen’s death in Acts of the Apostles, the story of Polycarp is the next oldest existing factual account of martyrdom as recorded in the year 156AD.
Polycarp was an important leader in the early Church, a disciple of St. John the Apostle and later appointed Bishop of Smyrna (in modern-day Turkey).
According to history, Polycarp was betrayed by a servant, arrested, and led before the proconsul and a crowd that had gathered in the stadium. Upon being ordered to curse Christ, Polycarp responded, “I have served Him for eighty-six years and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and Savior?” The proconsul, at the urging of the crowd, thereupon ordered him burnt at the stake.
When being burned, he praised God amidst the flames saying, “Wherefore also I praise Thee for all things, I bless Thee, I glorify Thee, along with the everlasting and heavenly Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, with whom, to Thee and the Holy Ghost be glory both now and to all coming ages. Amen.”
As he praised God, miraculously, the flames refused to touch him. The men who watched could not believe that this “strange man” would not burn. So instead, at the proconsul’s orders, an executioner pierced him through with a dagger. It was said that such a great quantity of blood came out that the fire was completely extinguished.
When we read such amazing testimony of early Christians, we are prone to wonder if we, in our generation, have even started the race. A man being burned at the stakes chooses to praise God instead. In so doing he offered up himself as a sacrifice of sweet smelling savor.
Those early Christians walked in the very reality of God, understanding that we are created solely for the purpose of bringing glory to God. They therefore saw every opportunity as praise opportunity. In the same vein, today, we should in all things give thanks to God, seeking for ways to constantly bring glory to His name. This is what we are called to do as Christians.
1 Peter 2:9 says, ‘But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.’ God called us out of darkness into light to offer Him praise continually. When we understand this purpose, then we, like David, can declare, ‘I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.’
In an atmosphere of continual praise, there are no pressures, only pleasures. In His presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand pleasures forever more. So what is that battle you are faced with? What is that challenge? Cheer up and give God worthy praise. In your praise is your victory!
PRAYER: Lord, please help me to praise you despite any situation, let nothing ever stop the continual flow of your praise from my mouth.
Quote
Praise always guarantees you power for a raise, learning to praise God in season and out of season is key to fulfilling destiny. WORDBITE 222.
[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK REJOICE]