Monday, June 19, 2023

Bring to God the Gift of Thanksgiving and Praise

 

Psalm 50:1-15

 

May 26, 2022

 

The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.  Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.  Our God comes; he does not keep silence;  before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest.  He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people: “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!” The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah

 

 “Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God.  Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me.  I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds.  For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.  “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.  Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?  Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

 

I’m fearful that we have a Church as a whole that has no understanding of the God whom they say they worship. Yes, He is the mighty One, and before Him is a devouring fire and around Him a mighty tempest.  If you are His then He is not only watching your actions, but your thought life.  It is God who is testifying against His chosen people.  You and I were grafted into that branch, and yes we are living on grace and faith but does that change God’s approach, a better question might be how are we different by living in the Church age?  First, are you part of God's Church, or just a member of a denomination?  I was a Baptist for 26 years before coming to grips with that being a Baptist but not having Christ living in my life by confessing my many sins, repenting, and asking Jesus to forgive me and enter into my life, was of no eternal value, and I was missing out on life now.  It requires a relationship with Jesus to be a member of His Church, to be family.

 

When you come to a place you understand it is not by works that you earn salvation, but when Christ enters into you and you into Him, the results will follow.

 

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

 

The Church must come to an awareness that our being grateful for God’s sacrifice to us of His Son, His only Son, and what is our requirement; to love the Lord our God, not just on special days, but every day by prayer, studying His written Word, and looking to Him for the plan He has for you.

 

May all who are just a member of a church but do not have a relationship with Jesus awake to their need for a Savior.

 

From the Back Porch

 

Bob Rice

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