Give Thanks To The Lord

 

           Psalm 136:1 says, "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." This statement is both intense and potent. We must give thanks unto the Lord: (1) "At the remembrance of His holiness" (Psalm 30:4), (2) "For His wondrous works" (Psalm 75:1), (3) Because "He is good and His mercy endures forever" (Psalm 106:1), and (4) Because of "His righteous judgment" (Psalm 119:62).

 

          The Bible says, "It is good to give thanks to the Lord." (Psalm 92:1) In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 we are taught, "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." God has been so good to us. Let us not forget to give Him thanks. "We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near." (Psalm 75:1) God said, "Be thankful." (Colossians 3:15) He also said, "Give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:20) Following are some things for which Christians should be thankful:

 

          Give thanks unto the Lord for life. Each day of life is a valuable gift from God. Our attitude must be, "This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24) God has given us this day of life. Therefore let us, "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name." (Psalm 100:4) God gives us "Life, breath and all things." (Acts 17:25-28) Thank God for eyes to see, a mind to think, ears to hear, hands to work, feet to walk and a heart to love. If you are a Christian remember, "That your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

 

          Give thanks unto the Lord for your eternal soul. I am thankful that God gave me an eternal soul and that He loved me so much He gave His only begotten Son that I might be saved. (John 3:16) God made man a living soul. "The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." (Genesis 2:7) We should begin our day with prayer. "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up." (Psalm 5:3) We should continue our day with thanksgiving because of the hope of salvation for our soul. "Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice." (Psalm 55:17) We should be thankful that even though our body is perishing our soul is being renewed daily. (2 Corinthians 5:1-5)

 

          Give thanks unto the Lord for the Bible. The Bible is the mind of God in human language. It is the revelation of God's love manifested in Jesus Christ. The Bible tells in simple terms, how to become a Christian and how to live the Christian life. God's word is "A lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105) Let us give thanks for the gospel of Christ for it is "The power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." (Romans 1:16) The truths of the Bible prepare our heart for battle with Satan. It is through the word of God that we are able to recognize the straight and narrow way and to remain faithful in God's service. (Matthew 7:13-14)

 

          Give thanks unto the Lord for the church. The church is the body of Christ. Colossians 1:18 says, "He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." The church is the family of God. (1 Timothy 3:15) The church was purchased by the blood of Jesus. "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28) God adds the saved to the church. (Acts 2:47) It is in the church that we have Christ as our Savior. "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body." (Ephesians 5:23) In Christ we enjoy the blessing of fellowship with other Christians. "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:6-7) I am thankful for the wonderful privilege of being a part of the church Jesus purchased with His precious blood.

 

          Give thanks unto the Lord for your family. Home is a wonderful blessing from God. Hus­bands should love their wives like Christ loved the church. (Ephesians 5:23-33) Wives must learn to love their husbands and children. (Titus 2:3-5) Our children and children's children are truly a blessing. "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate." (Psalm 127:3-5) Thank God for your family. Also speak words of love and appreciation to your family.

 

          Give thanks unto the Lord for the people who touch your life. Think about what others have done for you. Parents loved and protected you. Teachers taught you to read and learn. Friends blessed your life. Brethren have lifted your spirit and encouraged your soul. Thank God for others. Someone encouraged you to do right. Someone stood by you when you were sick. Someone was good to you. Thank God for others. "It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High." (Psalm 92:1)

 

     "Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18) "Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" (Psalm 107:21) Will you accept God's wonderful good news that Jesus died for your sins? Will you be baptized into Christ to put on Christ so that your sins can be forgiven by His blood? "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:26-27) Believers contact Christ's saving blood by being baptized into His death. Those that become children of God have reason to rejoice. (Acts 8:39) Rejoicing follows man's response to God's good news of forgiveness by the death of Jesus.

 

          By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, P.O. Box 551, Greenville, Alabama 36037 USA