Thanksgiving
Originally scheduled for November 28
"He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors
Me; And to him who orders
his way
aright I
shall show the salvation of God."
(Psalms 50:23 NASB)
Grandparents can tell you: little children have more than one way
to say "thank you." Sometimes it sincere; sometimes it's because
their parents prompt them. It would seem that thankfulness is
something that must be taught — because kids don't learn it on their
own.
There is something of that in this passage. The psalmist is
trying to convey the idea that offering thanks to God is a good
thing; making your ways right is a better thing. Just coming to God
with the sacrifice of thanksgiving — perhaps in song – is a good
start. But like the sincerity of the thanks of a three-year-old, God
knows the difference between those who are just mouthing the words
and those who are living the life. The good news is that those who
are living the life find that God accepts the sacrifice of
thanksgiving. Thanksgiving and right living are connected.
It's an interesting way to say it: "sacrifice of thanksgiving."
It's as if we are reluctant to thank God for what he has done;
somehow it's a sacrifice. In little children, we know what causes
this — selfishness. It's a little bit more difficult in adults. But
we need to look, because of we are not willing to make the sacrifice
of thanksgiving then something is wrong with our Christian life.
Therefore, we should examine ourselves before communion. Look
into your heart and see if there is something that prevents you from
thinking God for the greatest gift ever given. Ask him to clean it
out-of-the-way if it is there. And then approach communion with
clean hands and a clean heart, making the sacrifice of thanksgiving
that honors God.
