The words on his T-shirt got my attention: Better Never Stops. So, I caught up with the stranger and asked what he liked most about the words on his back. For him, it was about aiming for better athletic performance, to reach for more in his sporting potential. Then (as I had hoped), he asked why I was interested in the words. A perfect opportunity to share the gospel from the back of his T-shirt!
Those words also carry a message for all in Christ. We are content in him, yet we reach for more…a deeper, bigger experience of knowing him. It never stops. Yesterday’s ‘good’ in the Lord gives us an appetite for ‘better’ in him today. His promise is bigger than our current experience of it, so we have no reason to stop reaching.
It Could Have ended Differently
God gave the enslaved Israelites an amazing introduction to his power. He showed his strength against the gods of Egypt, split the Red Sea to give them a highway between walls of water, and demolished Pharaoh’s pursuing chariot army. The people paused their journey to have their first praise gathering in freedom, a song-and-dance celebration of the Lord who works wonders (Ex 15:11).
But the worship didn’t last. They soon forgot what he had done (Psm 106:9-13).
They became a company of complainers and doubters who married themselves to other gods – a generation that saw God’s wonders, but lived as if they hadn’t. Sadly, they turned away from the future promised them.
The story of the exodus generation could have ended differently. God’s power at the start of their journey would have continued through their tomorrows. But they stopped celebrating what he had done, and so lost an expectation of ‘the more’ that he wanted to do.
More Than Story-telling
The Lord wanted his works to be the subject of conversation. And the core ‘sound arena’ for celebrating what he had done was to be the family circle. Parents were to talk to their children about his love-commands and his wonderful works. The children would pick up that celebration and pass it to the next generation (Psm 78:2-6).
But it was more than story-telling; it was about stirring praise for what God had done. So, the psalmist sings: I will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done (Psm 78:4).
Talking about the Lord’s past works and answers to prayer is good. But it’s as we praise him for them that faith and expectation revive. Celebrating what he has done encourages us to reach for what he wants to do.
Reach for More…
In your journey with the Lord: Talk to him about his mercy to you, his works that have shaped you, some significant answers from him, and spiritual growth surges in the past. Fill the conversation with praise for what he has done and tell him of your desire to reach for more of what he has promised you in Christ.
For a nation or community: Do you have a memory or record of something the Lord has done there in the past—a harvest breakthrough, revival, or some sign of his goodness among them (Psm 86:17)? This might require some research. Share that work of the Spirit with someone, celebrate it with praise, then reach for more. Ask the Lord for his fresh, present-day works of power promised for that nation/community.
Read Psalm 44:1-8. What story of God’s power at work in the past has been passed on to you? Re-tell it and exalt him for those praiseworthy deeds. How does that story affect your praying as you reach for more, for new stories of his power at work in your day?
