GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD

B. Mills

Psalm 106: 1-3

1 Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?

3 Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.

Let us praise God for it is he who provides for His own.

Thanks giving is a harvest time festival pf American origin, but also celebrated in other lands as well, though not necessarily on the same date, nor as a national holiday. Traditionally, it is a time of homecoming.

However, as children of God, we have so very much to be thankful for. First, we need to be thankful every day that He loves us so much that He was willing to give us His Son as a sacrifice for our sins so that we can be with Him forever. He did not have to do that, but he did it anyway! John 3:16 assures us of that fact. ”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Believers need not perish! If they accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ, they will realize also that all power has been given unto him, both in Heaven and on earth. Matthew 28:18. And they will hasten to accept that this includes all of us. His command, “Go ye unto all the world, and preach the gospel to every nation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:15-16. That command is an edict of an absolute Monarch. No greater power exists.

We can be thankful that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us in his father’s house. We don’t know what it will be like, but rest assured, it will make anything available here seem insignificant. It is there waiting his sending for us.

We can be thankful for his concern that, as his servants, we have all our needs, even here, are assured. Our food, our clothing, our shelter, are provided, even as he provides for the animals, the flowers of the fields, and the birds of the air, we can be sure that he will care for us as well. That assurance is for his servants, not everyone, everywhere. This is the time that has been set aside for us to give thanks, and to pray for one another and for our leaders and land.