There are countless passages of Scripture that encourage, invite, and even admonish (1 Thessalonians 5:18) us to express gratitude to God. One of the most well known and often quoted is Psalm 100 probably because its succinct, rhythmic stanzas make it easy to memorize.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
If we are honest, we need these reminders regularly, even during this time of year. The holiday known as Thanksgiving is a fairly recent development in human history. And you’ve probably heard the story about the first Thanksgiving more times than you care to admit. I won’t retell it here, because my intention is not to draw your attention to Pilgrims, Native Americans, turkey, family, or anything else that has to do with the holiday. Instead, I want to direct your attention to the supreme Object of our gratitude and thanks – our great and mighty God.
Take time today, whether it is Thanksgiving or any other day to reflect on God’s goodness and his steadfast love. Remind yourself that you are not, as the world tells us, self-made. In his goodness God made you, and by his grace he saved you. Remember that you were once a lost and wandering sheep until Jesus Christ, the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul appeared (1 Peter 2:25). Because of our sin, we had every reason to fear God and his white-hot wrath (Nahum 1:6). But as redeemed citizens of God’s Kingdom, we have been granted the privilege of entering King Jesus’ regal court and into his loving presence. For millennia, meditating on the gospel has compelled God’s people to worship him in song (verses 1, 2b), glad service (verse 2a), praise (verse 4a), and blessing (verse 4b). I pray that you find a new reason today to “Make a joyful noise to the Lord!”