“But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.” – Psalm 73:28

This is one of the twelve Psalms of Asaph. It is a wisdom psalm where the author extols the benefits of following God. Certainly, it is good for all of humanity to be near to God. All of mankind, be they followers of Christ or not, receive blessings from the Lord. However, the focus here is the great benefit given to those who completely dedicate their lives to God. Disciples of Christ are not promised the benefits this world holds dear: wealth and possessions. That which the Christian covets is the grace and mercy found only in Christ.

What should be the result of the blessings found in Jesus for the Christian disciple? Our eternal salvation should focus our hearts outward. In unmeasurable joy for the love of Christ our response should be to think more of others and to pursue them for God’s glory. James Rosscup says, “He closes with the captivating fact that the God in whom he trusts will enable him to declare all of ‘Thy works.’ So, he has others in view, not now in self-pampering pity but in a passion to minister so that his life counts to help others.”[1] When Christ changes our hearts we should be less focused on our own wellbeing and instead have a great burden for the lost.

As followers of Christ are discipled and educated of the glorious works and grace of Christ the response should be to mercifully pass that news of great love onto others. We must tell the lost in all the nations of the great works of the Lord. It is cruel to hide such good news from others. To not share God’s name is a conscious and unnatural act of evil. The only loving response to such great knowledge is to share it with those who need it the most.

[1] James E. Rosscup, An Exposition on Prayer in the Bible: Igniting the Fuel to Flame Our Communication with God (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2008), 922.