Songs of Loudest Praise
“Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.” (Psalm 98:1).
A cool tradition has taken fans captive at Dell Diamond where the Texas Ranger’s Triple-A affiliate baseball team, the Round Rock Express, plays their games. No, they don’t have a moment of silence for Will Ferrell’s baseball alter ego Rojo Johnson, though they named the concession stand after him. And no, owner Nolan Ryan, ‘The Ryan Express,” doesn’t always throw out the first pitch, though he often does.
The cheery ritual I’m talking about happens when a Round Rock player jacks a home run. As he circles the bases fans will begin waving dollar bills in the air. “Team moms” or ballpark officials circulate caps throughout the stands to collect the money, then it’s given to the player after the game. It’s a fun and tangible way of honoring a player for his exceptional performance.
Stop reading and watch this video. Then come back to reading this. I promise you, if you give it your full attention, you will enjoy adoring Jesus with Sarah!
Here are the opening lines of what you just heard, right?!!
Come thou fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing thy grace
Streams of mercy never ending
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Read the last two lines again. Isn’t it true that God’s mercies to us are unending? In Jesus every day is a genesis day of new mercy. The sainted Prof. Deuschlander loved to say, “Mercy is the only kind of love we can cause in the heart of God. It’s the love of pity.” It is not by our virtue that God puts brand new mercies into our daily lives but by our wretchedness.
Jesus saw our sin and paid for it. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us …” (Galatians 3:13a). Now he does not give us what we do deserve - mercy. Amazingly, he does give us what we don’t deserve - grace. Forgiveness, salvation, a spiritual family, a heavenly home, friends, grandkids, a free country, your morning coffee, that hug you got from your little one, … God really is the “fount of every blessing.” All by mercy and grace.
My friend, there must be many fun and tangible ways for you to honor him for his exceptional performance. After all, Jesus deserves our praise and affection. Give a gift. Share the gospel. Forgive. Show mercy. And for heaven’s sake, sing your “songs of loudest praise” today.
