Magnify
Magnifying God: A Call to Exuberant Worship
In a world that often encourages self-promotion and personal glory, there's a profound counter-cultural message that deserves our attention: the call to magnify God. But what does it truly mean to "magnify" an already infinite being? It's not about making God bigger—He's already as big as He can be. Rather, it's about drawing closer to Him, gaining a clearer picture of His grandeur, and allowing His magnificence to fill our vision and transform our perspective.
The Psalmist David, in a moment of profound insight, penned these words: "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together" (Psalm 34:3). This isn't just a casual suggestion—it's an exuberant invitation to join in a collective celebration of God's greatness. But why is this so important, and how can we practically live it out?
The Heart of Worship: Active Engagement
Too often, we approach worship as spectators rather than participants. We've become accustomed to treating church services like performances, where we passively consume rather than actively engage. But true worship, as described in Scripture, is an event of action and involvement. It requires our whole selves—heart, mind, and voice.
David declares, "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth" (Psalm 34:1). Notice the emphasis on "continually" and "in my mouth." This isn't about silent, internal appreciation—it's about vocal, expressive praise. While God certainly knows our hearts, He also delights in our outward expressions of adoration.
Think about it: when our favorite sports team scores a winning touchdown, we don't sit quietly and think about how happy we are. We jump up, shout, and celebrate! Why, then, are we often so reserved in our worship of the Almighty God? Perhaps it's time to let our joy in the Lord overflow in more demonstrative ways.
Praising in All Seasons
One of the most challenging aspects of David's exhortation is the call to praise God "at all times." This means in seasons of abundance and in times of lack, in moments of triumph and in periods of trial. Even Job, in the midst of unimaginable suffering, was able to declare, "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21).
This kind of persistent praise isn't about denying our pain or putting on a fake smile. Instead, it's about cultivating a deep-rooted trust in God's character that transcends our circumstances. It's recognizing that God is worthy of praise not because of what He does for us, but because of who He is.
The Power of Corporate Worship
While personal devotion is crucial, there's something uniquely powerful about coming together as a community of believers to worship. David emphasizes this communal aspect: "Let us exalt His name together" (Psalm 34:3). When we gather, our individual praises combine and amplify, creating a symphony of adoration that is greater than the sum of its parts.
In an age of individualism and online experiences, we must not underestimate the importance of physically gathering with other believers. There's a special blessing that comes when God's people assemble to worship the same mighty God with one voice and one heart.
Why Magnify God?
The call to magnify God isn't arbitrary—it's rooted in who God is and what He has done. From the intricate details of creation to the grand narrative of redemption, from our personal experiences of His faithfulness to the promise of future glorification, we have endless reasons to praise.
Moreover, when we focus on magnifying God, something remarkable happens: our problems are put into perspective. Just as a magnifying glass makes small things appear larger, so too does our praise make God appear "bigger" in our lives. Our challenges, which once seemed overwhelming, begin to shrink in comparison to His greatness.
The Blessing of Blessing God
Here's a novel thought: when we praise God, we actually get to bless Him. We're so accustomed to asking for God's blessings that we often forget we can be a source of blessing to Him through our worship. This reciprocal relationship is a beautiful mystery of faith—the created bringing joy to the Creator through heartfelt adoration.
Hope for the Humble
There's a promise embedded in the call to worship that we shouldn't overlook: "The humble will hear it and rejoice" (Psalm 34:2). In this context, "humble" doesn't just mean those who are meek, but also those who are hurting, distressed, or broken. When we lift our voices in praise, even (and especially) when we don't feel like it, something transformative happens. Our spirits are lifted, our perspectives shift, and we find renewed strength and joy.
This is the power of worship—it's not just about what we give to God, but also about how it changes us in the process. As we make God bigger in our vision, our problems become smaller, our hearts become lighter, and our hope is renewed.
A Challenge to Magnify
As we reflect on this call to magnify God, let's challenge ourselves to approach worship with renewed vigor and intentionality. Here are a few practical steps we can take:
1. Engage actively in corporate worship, letting our voices be heard in song and affirmation.
2. Practice praising God daily, especially in difficult circumstances.
3. Look for reasons to magnify God in the small details of life, cultivating a heart of continual thanksgiving.
4. Gather with other believers regularly, not just for teaching, but for the express purpose of collective praise.
5. Allow our worship to overflow from our private devotions into our public lives, becoming a living testimony of God's greatness.
Remember, making God big is not just our duty—it's our joy and privilege. As we lift our voices and our hearts in praise, we not only honor the One who is worthy of all glory, but we also position ourselves to experience the transformative power of His presence in our lives.
May we be a people known for our exuberant, unashamed, and continual praise of our great God.
In Christ’s Love,
In a world that often encourages self-promotion and personal glory, there's a profound counter-cultural message that deserves our attention: the call to magnify God. But what does it truly mean to "magnify" an already infinite being? It's not about making God bigger—He's already as big as He can be. Rather, it's about drawing closer to Him, gaining a clearer picture of His grandeur, and allowing His magnificence to fill our vision and transform our perspective.
The Psalmist David, in a moment of profound insight, penned these words: "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together" (Psalm 34:3). This isn't just a casual suggestion—it's an exuberant invitation to join in a collective celebration of God's greatness. But why is this so important, and how can we practically live it out?
The Heart of Worship: Active Engagement
Too often, we approach worship as spectators rather than participants. We've become accustomed to treating church services like performances, where we passively consume rather than actively engage. But true worship, as described in Scripture, is an event of action and involvement. It requires our whole selves—heart, mind, and voice.
David declares, "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth" (Psalm 34:1). Notice the emphasis on "continually" and "in my mouth." This isn't about silent, internal appreciation—it's about vocal, expressive praise. While God certainly knows our hearts, He also delights in our outward expressions of adoration.
Think about it: when our favorite sports team scores a winning touchdown, we don't sit quietly and think about how happy we are. We jump up, shout, and celebrate! Why, then, are we often so reserved in our worship of the Almighty God? Perhaps it's time to let our joy in the Lord overflow in more demonstrative ways.
Praising in All Seasons
One of the most challenging aspects of David's exhortation is the call to praise God "at all times." This means in seasons of abundance and in times of lack, in moments of triumph and in periods of trial. Even Job, in the midst of unimaginable suffering, was able to declare, "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21).
This kind of persistent praise isn't about denying our pain or putting on a fake smile. Instead, it's about cultivating a deep-rooted trust in God's character that transcends our circumstances. It's recognizing that God is worthy of praise not because of what He does for us, but because of who He is.
The Power of Corporate Worship
While personal devotion is crucial, there's something uniquely powerful about coming together as a community of believers to worship. David emphasizes this communal aspect: "Let us exalt His name together" (Psalm 34:3). When we gather, our individual praises combine and amplify, creating a symphony of adoration that is greater than the sum of its parts.
In an age of individualism and online experiences, we must not underestimate the importance of physically gathering with other believers. There's a special blessing that comes when God's people assemble to worship the same mighty God with one voice and one heart.
Why Magnify God?
The call to magnify God isn't arbitrary—it's rooted in who God is and what He has done. From the intricate details of creation to the grand narrative of redemption, from our personal experiences of His faithfulness to the promise of future glorification, we have endless reasons to praise.
Moreover, when we focus on magnifying God, something remarkable happens: our problems are put into perspective. Just as a magnifying glass makes small things appear larger, so too does our praise make God appear "bigger" in our lives. Our challenges, which once seemed overwhelming, begin to shrink in comparison to His greatness.
The Blessing of Blessing God
Here's a novel thought: when we praise God, we actually get to bless Him. We're so accustomed to asking for God's blessings that we often forget we can be a source of blessing to Him through our worship. This reciprocal relationship is a beautiful mystery of faith—the created bringing joy to the Creator through heartfelt adoration.
Hope for the Humble
There's a promise embedded in the call to worship that we shouldn't overlook: "The humble will hear it and rejoice" (Psalm 34:2). In this context, "humble" doesn't just mean those who are meek, but also those who are hurting, distressed, or broken. When we lift our voices in praise, even (and especially) when we don't feel like it, something transformative happens. Our spirits are lifted, our perspectives shift, and we find renewed strength and joy.
This is the power of worship—it's not just about what we give to God, but also about how it changes us in the process. As we make God bigger in our vision, our problems become smaller, our hearts become lighter, and our hope is renewed.
A Challenge to Magnify
As we reflect on this call to magnify God, let's challenge ourselves to approach worship with renewed vigor and intentionality. Here are a few practical steps we can take:
1. Engage actively in corporate worship, letting our voices be heard in song and affirmation.
2. Practice praising God daily, especially in difficult circumstances.
3. Look for reasons to magnify God in the small details of life, cultivating a heart of continual thanksgiving.
4. Gather with other believers regularly, not just for teaching, but for the express purpose of collective praise.
5. Allow our worship to overflow from our private devotions into our public lives, becoming a living testimony of God's greatness.
Remember, making God big is not just our duty—it's our joy and privilege. As we lift our voices and our hearts in praise, we not only honor the One who is worthy of all glory, but we also position ourselves to experience the transformative power of His presence in our lives.
May we be a people known for our exuberant, unashamed, and continual praise of our great God.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Kirk Flaa
Recent
Archive
2025
March
April
No Comments