Give Thanks

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”

I attended a church in Dakar which began their service like this..
Pastor: “God is good!”
People: “All the time!”
Pastor: “All the time!”
People: “God is good!”

What an excellent way to begin worship together. We read this statement 6 times in the Psalms and again, word for word in Jeremiah. Obviously, it was a well known and often repeated declaration.

If we will declare from our souls that God is good, then there will be no other gods before him. Every idol we worship is set up because we don’t believe God is good. So we ask money, or people, or pleasure to meet our need. We need a reminder that God is good. David said, “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11 It’s true. God is good. All the time.

And how do we measure the love of God? Does God cease to be good when I cease to be well? Does God cease to be good my path is painful?

I am reminded that the proof of God’s goodness is his unfailing love. Translate it “mercy.” Call it “steadfast love.” Do you want never ending Thanksgiving? Then never stop looking to the cross and giving praise for the enduring mercy of God.

This is the heart of Thanksgiving. And a Happy Thanksgiving to you!

Our text on Sunday will be Mark 6:1-13 as Jesus returns to Nazareth.

See you at 10:00. This will be our last Sunday in the Elementary School.

Richard Glenny