Give Thanks to God
The Scriptures call the believers to give thanks to God for His infinite goodness and mercy (Psalm 107:1; 118:1; 1 Chronicles 16:34; 1 Thessalonians 5:18). David wrote, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 106:1; 136:3). The Lord is rightouss (Psalm 118:29), and “His mercy is everlasting” (Psalm 100:5). Why should we give thanks to God?
God – our Creator
The Lord deserves our praise because He has created us and made us after His image (Genesis 1:26,27). This glorified nature reflected His divine holiness, till sin shattered it. We were fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). The Lord took special interest in the way He created us (Psalm 139:13). And He knew us in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5). Even the hairs of our head are counted by Him (Matthew 10:30). By creating us, He gave us the chance to enjoy life now and prepare for the eternal kingdom of glory.
God – our Sustainer
The Palmist says, “You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds” (Psalm 145:16-17). The Lord provides with open hand not only our physical necessities but He opens to us the great stores of grace. He is always ready to give; His hand of love is always stretched to bless us. And He is able and willing to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).
The apostle writes “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). He gives us strength to endure every trial (2 Corinthians 12:9), power to resist all temptations (Philippians 4:13), and works all things for our good (Romans 8:28).
God – our Redeemer
The Lord offered His own Son to save us. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The supreme expression of divine love is the Father’s gift of His own Son (John 3:16), through whom it becomes possible for us to be “called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1). “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
Although God’s love embraces all mankind, it directly benefits only those who accept it (John 1:12). For love needs a two way relatioship in order to be fully effective. God not only redeemed us but also gave us a new nature and victory over sin. We need to praise Him for He supports us through our hardships (James 1:12; Hebrews 13:15) and “has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Colossians 1:12).
Give Thanks to Show Gratitude
Praising God is well pleasing to Him for it is how we acknowledge our gratitude for His infinite gift of love (Psalm 107:21-22). It is the least we can do in return for what He has done for us. “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
When the Son of God ministered on earth and went about healing all manner of sickness, He was continually met with ingratitude. When He healed the ten lepers, only one of them returned, and thanked Him. And this man was a Samaritan.” So Jesus said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:15–18). God has done so much for us humans. Should we be forgetful of His mercy?
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s”.
Psalm 103:1-5
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
