Give Thanks

August 31

(Psalm 107:1-3 NIV)  "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. {2} Let the redeemed of the Lord say this-- those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, {3} those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.

(Psalm 107:8,15,21,31 NIV) "Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men." 

(Psalm 107:22 NIV)  "Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy." 

(Psalm 107:32 NIV)  "Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders." 

Even though Thanksgiving is a national holiday, we still find it difficult to be truly thankful. There are others who have more than we do. But thankfulness is not about what we don’t have -- it’s about what we do have, and most of us have more than enough. Scattered throughout Psalm 107 are commands from God to be thankful. It’s even mentioned as a “sacrifice”. It’s something we give up to God. Whether we feel like it or not is immaterial. We owe it to God because “He is good” and “His love endures forever”. We owe it to Him because we have been redeemed. We owe it to Him because He has gathered us from faraway places and brought us into His presence. We owe it to Him because of His wonderful works and deeds on our behalf. Are you among those he has gathered? Thank Him privately and publicly. Tell of His goodness. Exalt Him for his grace and favor. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day