Meaning of CLAUDIUS LYSIAS

The Roman officer in Jerusalem who, when Paul was arrested, protected him and acted quickly to separate him from those around him who intended to kill him (Acts 23:26; 24:7, 22).

Gospel joy, knowing how honored and loved we are in Christ (verse 5), makes us ready for this mission.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Poetry of Praise and Redemptive Mission

Timothy Keller

The praise of the redeemed. His people praise him because he has made them his people and because he honors and delights in them —though they don’t deserve it. Gospel joy, knowing how honored and loved we are in Christ, makes us ready for this mission.

Praise unites us also with one another. Here is “the only potential bond between the extremes of mankind: joyful preoccupation with God.” Praise the Lord!

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

The Praise that Unites All

Timothy Keller

Praise Those Unites. We see extremes brought together in praise: wild animals and kings, old and young. Young men and maids, old men and babes. How can humans be brought into the music? He has raised up for his people a horn, a strong deliverer.

All of nature sings God’s glory; we alone are out of tune. The question is this: How can we be brought back into the great music?

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Praise Resounds Throughout Creation

Timothy Keller

The Praise Of Creation. Praise comes to God from all he has made. It begins in the highest heaven (verses 1–4). It comes from the sun and moon and stars (verse 3), from the clouds and rain (verse 4).

Christians are saved by faith, not by obeying the law, but the law shows us how to please, love, and resemble the one who saved us by grace.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

True Worship that Pleases the Lord

Timothy Keller

A little boy left his toys out and went in to practice the piano, using hymns for his lesson. When his mother called him to pick up his toys, he said, “I ca n’t eat; “I’m singing praise to Jesus.” His mother responded: “There's no use singing God's praises when you're being disobedient.”

Psalm 19 tells us that, unless you repress it, you can still hear the stars singing about their maker.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

From Heavenly Greatness to Inexhaustible Love

Timothy Keller

The number of stars is still uncountable by human science, yet God knows them by name (verse 4; cf. Isaiah 40:26). Job speaks of the creation, when “the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy” (Job 38:7).