Bee-ing what we're made to bee!

Psalm 113:1-9 NKJV

Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, Praise the name of the LORD! [2] Blessed be the name of the LORD From this time forth and forevermore! [3] From the rising of the sun to its going down The LORD's name is to be praised. [4] The LORD is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. [5] Who is like the LORD our God, Who dwells on high, [6] Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in the heavens and in the earth? [7] He raises the poor out of the dust, And lifts the needy out of the ash heap, [8] That He may seat him with princes- With the princes of His people. [9] He grants the barren woman a home, Like a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD!

Last evening I sat and watched a bumble bee busily collecting nectar from the flowers in the garden.

It was so meticulous, nothing disturbed it. It was doing just what it was created to do - collecting ingredients to make honey.

You never see a bee buzzing around food trying to settle where it isn't wanted. No, its focused and single minded - never wasting a second.

This Psalm starts with our "raison d'etre" - our reason for being: to praise and worship the Lord.

As Augustine of Hippo said:

"You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee."

Our fulfillment is found in a love relationship with our Creator "from the rising of the sun to its going down".

The sun may be masked with clouds or blazingly hot, like today, but still we are at peace when we bend our hearts to the majesty and wonder of our Lord and Saviour Jesus, the Christ.

Should we just say words of praise as if by rote (mechanical and empty) - no way! Our praise can demonstrate in the way we live, work and relate to others. That all is a praise to our God.

We're not robots just saying "praise the Lord" without meaning. Oh no, we do it out of grateful hearts, thankful for the wonder of the Lord Jesus and His amazing grace.

From the heart keep "bee-ing" what we're meant to "bee", busy glorifying Jesus, who is "sweeter than honey and the honeycomb" Psalm 19:10!