Excerpts From: The Messenger |
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"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." Hebrews 13:15"
Those who travel abroad say a good word to learn in every language is the word "thanks." As we Christians are traveling through this world toward the next, it is suitable for every believer to give sincere gratitude, especially to God.
Thanksgiving expresses the internal emotion of love and appreciation to God. In Psalm 50, God’s people are encouraged to "offer unto God thanksgiving." In other words, the inner devotion of a thankful heart is what God truly desires.
We are urged to be thankful unto God, and many are the blessings received when such thanksgiving is rendered.
As St. Ansgar’s Lutheran Church in Montreal celebrates its 80th anniversary as a congregation, we are called to be thankful even in the littlest thing. Over the years, St. Ansgar’s has seen many people walk in and out of the doors of this church, some through water baptism, affirmation of faith, others through marriage, others came broken in spirit, mind, and body but found healing and wholeness in this congregation as they were embraced with love and acceptance.
We are to be thankful to have been there at those times of need. We can give praise for all these opportunities.
Giving praise to the Lord is one of the best ways to express our thanks to God for His blessings. We may go through our routine of thanking God for our food before we eat, for the clothes we wear and even praise God for the sunshine. I wonder, though, how many of us do it on a regular basis?
I believe that what God wants, first, is a thankful heart. That is what God seeks, a thankful heart. Each one of us is to offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. A sacrifice is something into which we put effort; it costs us.
Have you ever asked yourself why the Scriptures stress thanksgiving so much?
Both the Old and New Testaments emphasize that above everything else, God wants thankfulness. "Give thanks in all circumstances," says the apostle Paul, "for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Why is this? It is because thanksgiving only comes as a result of having received something. You do not give thanks until you have received something that comes from someone else. Therefore thanksgiving is the proper expression of Christianity, because in Christianity we are constantly receiving something from God. Of course, if you have not received anything from God, then you have nothing to thank Him for. If we were to search our hearts, there we would be sure to find lots of things to be thankful for.
Here is what I thought I would leave with you as we reflect on the theme of Thanksgiving. We need to recognize that all of the things we find in our blessing basket come from above. So let us praise God!
P-R-A-I-S-E!
P Praise God because
He is POWERFUL
"Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great
power, and by thy strong hand." Nehemiah 1:10
R Praise God because of
His RIGHTEOUSNESS.
"Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep:
O LORD, thou preservest man and beast." Psalm 36:6
A Praise God because
He is ABLE
"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all
sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" 2
Corinthians 9:8
I Praise God because
He is INFINITE.
"'O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and
through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."
Romans 11:33-36
E Praise God because
He is EVERLASTING.
"...and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The
everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6
Let us not forget thanksgiving pleases God. On one occasion, Jesus cleansed 10 lepers but only one turned to give thanks. Then Jesus sadly inquired, "Where are the nine?" Some are eager to ask but slow to appreciate. It also is true that thanksgiving cannot be separated from the will of God. His word says, "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (I Thessalonians 5:18).
" Thanksgiving is one thing we do on earth that we will continue in heaven. May we all say, "I will give thanks unto Thee forever" (Psalm 30:12).
God’s peace be with you.
Your friend, and pastor,
Pastor Samuel King-Kabu
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& Jette Blair.
Content-New Topics Last Updated: 2008/03/04
St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church - Montreal