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June 13, 2018

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The Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

"I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD." Psalm 116:17

Among the various graces that characterize a true believer, none is more conspicuous than "thanksgiving." I want you to ask yourself three questions: Are you truly thankful? For what are you thankful? What is the motive of your thanksgiving?

Think through the following things and ask yourself, "Am I consciously thankful and living in the awareness of these things?" Thankful to be living where the gospel is taught, and for the day I responded to its saving grace and infinite condescending love. To revel in the untold beauty of God's creation so magnificently displayed in all things. To see the dawn of a new day, beholding the sunrise as it lightens the world in all its beauty, shining forth with its light and warmth, giving forth life. The glistening dew of morning as it softly blankets the grass with sparkling vapor, giving the grass and flowers their refreshing water. The first cheerful song of the birds as they welcome another day with gladness, reminding us of how much we have to be thankful for. The rippling waters of a mountain stream as it splashes its way over the rocks. The refreshing drops of rain as they fall freely and water the thirsty earth. The crowning glory of the sunset in all its brilliance as it closes another day. The wonder of millions of twinkling stars and the moon as they decorate the sky in nocturnal beauty, reflecting the light of the sun. The inspiration of music so soothing and restful to our driven and weary lives. The words of comfort, encouragement, and strength from those we love. The blessing to walk, to feel, to smell, to touch, to see. WE TAKE SO MUCH FOR GRANTED, until it is taken away from us. Then we realize HOW BLESSED WE ARE!

I'm thankful for the redemption we have in Christ. Who can comprehend the height, the depth, the length, and the width, of the love of God? Who can know His condescending love?...His grace, greater than all our sin?...His peace that passes our understanding?...His joy, unspeakable and full of glory?...His unsearchable greatness? The whole "mystery of redemption," contrived, executed, applied, and experienced in the heart of man, is so great! We cannot contemplate it for a moment without exclaiming with Paul, "Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out!" When David meditated on the attributes of God, he cried out in praise, "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable [beyond our comprehension]." I'm thankful for the Holy Spirit, to comfort, empower, teach, guide, and abide with us forever. I'm thankful for His Word that provides strength, grace, mercy, peace, and direction for our lives. God has given us richer blessings than words can declare or our imagination can conceive. May we, as David, offer to Him the sacrifice of thanksgiving and lift up our hearts in praise and adoration to Him.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies; who satisfies your mouth with good things, so your youth is renewed like the eagles." BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL!

© 2007 by Ed Powell. Used by permission.


This page was reprinted by permission from: http://litmin.org/dare.php?date=2018-06-13


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