Live Unto Righteousness!
by PJ
Tehillim / Psalms 50:23 AMP "He who brings an offering of praise and thanksgiving honors and glorifies Me; and he who orders his way aright (who prepares the way that I may show him), to him I will demonstrate the salvation of God."
At this time of year in Canada and the United States of America, the holiday of Thanksgiving is celebrated. This comes on the heels of the Jewish Holiday of Sukkot on which the North American Thanksgiving is based.
In much of the world, people are facing a lot of hardship, lack and calamity. So many are without jobs and without homes and without food. But did you know even in the midst of such problems, there's a lot to thank G-d about?
How can I thank G-d for the times I have called upon Him and He rescued me from my enemies? How can I thank G-d for His faithfulness and loving kindness? How can I thank Him for the understanding He has given me of spiritual things? How can I thank Him for His protection, provision and healing?
My G-d is great! My G-d is King of all the earth! My G-d is a good G-d!
It's not enough to just give the fruit of my lips though. It is not enough just to sing, clap and rejoice about my Maker. There's much more I can do to show my gratitude.
It is written in Matityahu/Matthew 4:10 AMP, "...For it has been written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him alone shall you serve."
We are to serve G-d with all our hearts and all our souls. We are to do His commandments and walk in all His ways. Those who love Him are those who keep His commandments. When we love G-d and our brothers in the L-rd, we keep His commandments.
According to Romans 12 we are to "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality." What have you done this year to fulfill this scripture?
If we merely speak praise to G-d and believe that alone honors Him.....we are acting in foolishness. We are to live what we speak by loving what G-d loves. THAT is the offering of thanksgiving He desires.
When we serve the L-rd our G-d, He will bless our bread and our water. He will take away sickness. He will remove barrenness in the land. He will fulfill the number of our days. He doesn't delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices. He delights in our obedience.
Oh that we would get sincere about thanking G-d with our actions! Oh that we would truly fear the L-rd! Then maybe we would finally see the body of Moshiach begin to line up with the Word!
For many, this Thanksgiving holiday will be a time of family brawling and gorging selves with food to watch sports with a quickie prayer as if that means something to the Almighty G-d of heaven and earth! But I assure you, there is no honor to the King in it because those who are in the flesh cannot please G-d.
Live unto righteousness! That is the proper thanksgiving our G-d deserves!
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