Jude 1:25 “To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.”
Growing up I attended a church that had as part of its worship service a time where we sang what was called the doxology. A doxology may be defined as a short hymn or even a short prayer that is filled with praise exalting the glory and majesty of God. It was sung in our church after the offering had been taken up. The words were: Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
The doxology kept us focused on who was our provider!
Then the service would conclude with our pastor proclaiming a benediction on us in which he would extend his hand toward us, and many times would say Jude 1:25. In my mind I can see and hear Pastor Campbell saying, “To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.” And we would respond with “amen.”
Today we do not so much find in our services a doxology or a formal benediction. My question is not so much about my church or your church having a doxology and a benediction but how do you put into practice a doxology and a benediction? For me, the answer is with your prayer time. My reason for the answer comes from the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples to pray. You may recall how it starts and how it closes. It starts with “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.” By opening with hallowed be your name you have a doxology. Jesus teaches us to praise God for who He is as we start our prayer time. Then the prayer concludes with “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” This serves as benediction whereby we acknowledge who is in charge of our lives and everything around us. The benediction serves as a concluding reminder of who God is. We start with praising Him and we conclude with praising Him.
I would encourage you to consider adding Jude 1:25 to your prayer time. Each phrase is filled with expressive language describing who our God is. He is our savior and what a savior He is as He saved us from our sins. The angels proclaim to the shepherds in Luke 2:11 “There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” He is alone wise and provides the wisdom and guidance we need for our lives. As we are praising Him for who He is and what He does we now proclaim what He deserves to receive. In saying “Be glory” speaks of His excellence. There is no one higher. In saying “Be majesty” speaks of His authority. There is no one to challenge Him. To say, “Be Dominion” speaks of His right to rule. He created all things, and all things are to be subject to Him. To say “Be power” speaks of His might. As you conclude you acknowledge this in present and future with the words “both now and forever”
Isaiah 26:3 says, God will keep a person “in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” I have to believe your mind and heart will be filled with peace after praying Jude 1:25.
Continue Strong filling your mind with who God is,
And remember to DATE the Word