Psalm 135; Acts 14:21-28

Psalm 135 is a beautiful song of praise. When we struggle for the words with which to praise the Lord, this is a good Psalm to look at. The psalmist begins and ends the psalm with praising the Lord four times in the beginning and four times at the end. In between he reminds us of reasons we should praise the Lord and why He deserves our praise.

What are some of these reasons?
1. Our God is the God of salvation. Just as he chose Israel as His own special treasure, so He has chosen each of us, in some way we don't fully understand, as His precious child. What a gracious and merciful God we have! v. 4

2. Our God is greater than any other god. He does what pleases him throughout all heaven and earth, and on the seas and in their depths. Remember that He is perfect, so whatever pleases Him is also perfect. v. 5-7

3. He has worked His will throughout Israel's history and well as our own. v. 8-12

4. He is an everlasting God, and His name endures forever. v. 13-14

5. He is a living God, not like the dead idols. I love these verses (15-18) in the King James Version: "The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.  They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;  They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them." Isn't it a blessing and a wonder to have a LIVING God who is not the work of men's hands. He can see and hear us and can speak to us too!

Acts 14:21-28

In these verses we learn that Paul and Barnabas returned to some of the places where they had witnessed and led people to the Lord and started churches. v. 22 says they "strengthened the believers...encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God." This is good advice for us modern believers too. Though life is often hard, we must continue in the faith. 

We also learn a little about the government of the early church. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders, leaders in every church, choosing them after prayer and fasting, and turning the leadership of the church over to them.

Finally, they returned to the church in Antioch of Syria where they had started. They reported to the church there of all that God had done including opening "the door of faith to the Gentiles, too."