Give Thanks to the Lord

 

 

Psalm 138:1-9

 

December 5, 2022

 

Give Thanks to the Lord

Psalm Of David.

 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods, I sing your praise;  I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.   On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth,  and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord.  For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.  The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.  Do not forsake the work of your hands.

As a follower of Christ, my thoughts went to Do I give thanks to my Lord before the many gods of this world?   Have I exalted my Lord in the presence of those who put their faith in those little gods with no eternal future?  As followers of Christ have we not been told to set our minds on things above?  You will find that teaching in Colossians 3:2-10, and we have the command in verses 1-4, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.   When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”  If you are looking for some wiggle room God has not left any, we can set our minds on good or bad.  The next six verses or guidelines of what to do and not to do.

What happened when you and I were crucified with Christ?   Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  As a follower of Christ, we find we have highways in our minds leading us to those little gods that the world put trust in.  And often our flesh that has been trained to look to those little gods, and has forgotten or is not relying upon the truth we have been crucified with Christ.

 

I often forget and need this reminder found in Colossians 3:12-17, ^“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering; bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.   But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.   And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.   Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.   And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice