I Chronicles 16:8 “Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.”
Before I was saved, I came across a perspective at my first gospel preaching church that I did not originally understand. After a particularly good music solo, I would do my best to track down the soloist and express my appreciation for the beautiful music. The soloist’s response was often the same, but confusing to me at that stage of my life. The soloist would respond with something like “Praise God!” In my attempt to praise them, they would deflect the praise to the Lord. In my unsaved mind, I didn’t understand why they wouldn’t accept the compliment I intended for them.
They understood something important that I did not, that God was the source of all the good that came out of their lives. With that in mind, it would be selfish and dishonest from them to accept my praise when it rightfully belonged to Him. Furthermore, they recognized that deflecting praise gave them an opportunity to praise and worship God and to provide a witness to His greatness. They were making known His deeds among the people. In my specific case, they were making known His deeds to a person who badly needed to hear it.
PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD DEFLECT ALL TYPES OF PRAISE TO THE LORD. We must let others know who it is that rightfully deserves such praise, and it isn’t us.