Who do you need to thank?
- by Andy Wulff
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; - Psalm 136:1-3
(ESV)
The other day my son was asked to do a typical holiday writing assignment, but something about it struck me. They were told to write a couple paragraphs each talking about a person they need to thank. What a great idea! Having the kids consider those in their life to which to display gratitude is important. However, what struck me is the way the assignment could easily be answered on the horizontal. We should be grateful to those around us. Scripture commands it, but there is something more.
In this Psalm, the writer calls us to consider gratitude on the vertical. The individual in your life is secondary to the Creator, Lord, and Redeemer. Our thankfulness should first and foremost be directed at God. He is the one through whom all blessings descend. He is the great grace giver. Even in the storms and sadness he is the one that is for our good.
This week we want to set aside some time to share our gratitude for God with each other. We will have some time in the service for testimonies. Would you consider where you have seen God's grace in your life this year? What are you grateful to him for? Would you consider sharing that with us in a brief testimony? Also, we will be sharing together in communion because it points us toward our ultimate reference for gratitude - the gospel.
Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; - Psalm 136:1-3
(ESV)The other day my son was asked to do a typical holiday writing assignment, but something about it struck me. They were told to write a couple paragraphs each talking about a person they need to thank. What a great idea! Having the kids consider those in their life to which to display gratitude is important. However, what struck me is the way the assignment could easily be answered on the horizontal. We should be grateful to those around us. Scripture commands it, but there is something more.
In this Psalm, the writer calls us to consider gratitude on the vertical. The individual in your life is secondary to the Creator, Lord, and Redeemer. Our thankfulness should first and foremost be directed at God. He is the one through whom all blessings descend. He is the great grace giver. Even in the storms and sadness he is the one that is for our good.
This week we want to set aside some time to share our gratitude for God with each other. We will have some time in the service for testimonies. Would you consider where you have seen God's grace in your life this year? What are you grateful to him for? Would you consider sharing that with us in a brief testimony? Also, we will be sharing together in communion because it points us toward our ultimate reference for gratitude - the gospel.
