“THANKSGIVING”

Many of the psalms are declarations of thanksgiving. From them, we find that God’s faithfulness to His word was the reason and purpose for thanksgiving (Num. 23:19; Rom. 11:29). This is still true for Christians.  

GOD’S JUST-NESS— God’s just-ness is seen in His faithfulness to His promises. What God has said He will do, will be done—always. Our thanksgiving should be given with an undivided motive. Psa. 9:1 – I will give thanks unto Jehovah with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvellous works.” God gave His best for us. Ought we not give “of our best to the Master”? In this way, we “show forth” His works. David expressed God’s work as follows: “God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.” (Psa. 74:12).

 

While thanksgivings are expressed in prayer, they are better expressed through teaching others of God’s saving grace. Our denominational neighbors boast of their ‘salvation experiences’; do we? Have you been saved by ‘grace through faith’? A great testimony and a powerful teaching tool is by sharing your own salvation experience. It will open doors of opportunity to teach others of Christ salvation by grace through faith. It will not only be personal, but a tribute to others who called upon the name of the Lord in the Bible.

 

The harmony between God’s faithfulness to honor His promises and our expressing of thanks by “showing forth His works” is, again, beautifully stated by David: “Whoso offereth the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifieth me; and to him that ordereth his way aright will I show the salvation of God.” (Psa. 50:23).

“HAPPINESS OR BLESSEDNESS?

The word ‘blessed’ (found in many psalms and the beatitudes) means ‘happy’. But happiness does not necessarily equate to blessedness in the Bible. Satisfying the lusts of the flesh has pleasure (Heb. 11:25), yet such brings a penalty of death (Rom. 6:23).

To be blessed is to have God’s favor. God finds favor on those who walk by faith. Notice the example of (cf. Noah – Gen. 6:8; 7:1; Heb. 11:7). Noah exercised his faith in obedience to the will of God. For this reason, Noah was blessed of God, and therefore ‘happy’. God blesses all who submit to His will. He is their God, and they are His own (1 Kings 8:53; 1 Peter 2:9). When God is exalted by His own, He then exalts His own. This is a fulfillment of what He promised from eternity, being accomplished by Jesus, in His example of submission (Phil. 2:8-9).

There is an inseparable connection between blessedness and obedience taught in scripture. “Blessed are they that are perfect in the way, who walk in the law of Jehovah.” (Psa. 119:1). Again, we read, “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they walk, O Jehovah, in the light of thy countenance.  In thy name do they rejoice all the day; and in thy righteousness are they exalted.” (Psa. 89:15-16). The ultimate blessing in being exalted by God is seen in His forgiveness (Psa. 32:2).

However, blessedness comes with responsibility. The responsibility of loyalty to God who blesses. Our faith in God will be tested for loyalty (James 1:2-4). Let us follow Jesus, even if it means separation from family and friends who seek happiness in the pleasures of sin (Mark 10:26-30).

“THE MESSAGE OF RECONCILIATION”

The Bible declares that sin is committed in one of the following ways:

 ~ Rom. 14:23 – acting without faith

 ~ James 4:17 – recognizing the necessity of obedience but refusing to obey

 ~ 1 John 3:4 – transgressing God’s law

 ~ 1 John 5:17 – committing unrighteousness

The only conclusion that these statements imply is that sin is disobedience to God’s commands, either by going beyond or falling short regarding what God has required of man. Since sin is defined as disobedience to God’s commands, forgiveness for sin necessarily involves obedience to God’s commands. If not, why not?

God’s commands are a blessing to man (Deut. 6:24-25). They give us understanding of our plight because of our sin (John 15:22-24), and they promise eternal life to those who will receive them (John 12:50). God’s commands are also the criteria by which the sheep and goats will be separated at Judgment (Matt. 25:31-46).

The enmity of Gen. 3:15 between the seed of the woman and the seed of Satan resulted over a “thus saith the Lord”. This enmity (hatred) is not mutual, but from those who refuse to acknowledge Christ’s authority to command their lives toward those who do. The distinction between preaching truth versus error is seen in the relevance of commands and obedience as they relate to man’s faith and God’s grace.

You are guilty of sin, not because you inherited Adam’s disobedience (sin), but because of your own disobedience. You will receive an inheritance by obeying the form of obedience patterned after the one who bore your sin—Jesus. (Rom. 6:3-5; 17-18). Righteousness is imputed to the obedient. (2 Cor. 5:19; James 2:23).