Give Praise To God

Because we live within the confines of time marked by years, months and days that repeat, it is common for people to mark particularly meaningful days like birthdays, wedding anniversaries and holidays.  There are also days that "live in infamy" when people and nations have suffered great tragedies that will be soberly remembered for generations to come.  We look forward to days we celebrate, and Christmas is a day rapidly approaching many gladly anticipate.  Everyone has different holiday traditions and why a day is more meaningful or worthy of celebration, and for me Christmas is a reminder of something I can rejoice in every day:  that God sent Jesus Christ our Saviour to give us eternal life by faith in Him.

The giving and receiving of gifts on Christmas is a longstanding tradition among many people and cultures.  I find it interesting the different ways people discuss Christmas, like we are going to "have Christmas" at someone's home--meaning there will be a special meal or the exchange at that location rather than somewhere else.  An article reporting on an interview with an epidemiologist on The Project said, "After the interview, Wilkinson seemed sceptical that Australia’s politicians would follow the health experts’ advice: “They know that the greatest gift they could give, as politicians, is to give us Christmas,” she said.  “You don’t want to be the politician that destroyed Christmas,” quipped panellist Nazeem Hussain."  Can a politician give anyone Christmas or destroy it?  I suppose that depends on how you define Christmas.

God has given us Christ, and thus the purpose and reason Christmas exists for me does not depend on our ability to gather with family, to drink eggnog, eat special foods or the exchange of gifts.  I personally enjoy the exchange of gifts as an expression of thankgiving for the LORD's greatest gift in sending us His Son.  This morning David's words directed to God in Psalm 54:6 resonated with me:  "I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O LORD, for it is good."  David was obligated under the Law of Moses to offer sacrifices to the LORD from his flocks and herds.  As a shepherd he knew what to look for in quality sheep, goats and cattle and selected the best to give to God who gave him all things.  His obligation under Law was not an arduous and annoying duty but a joyful opportunity to freely sacrifice to God and praise God because He is good.  This is the heart we can have in giving to God and others every day, for God's goodness does not hinge on politicians or legislation.

Giving ourselves in praise to the LORD is fitting for every occasion as it is written in Hosea 14:1-2:  "O Israel, return to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity; ² take words with you, and return to the LORD. Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips."  See this divine exchange:  having received Jesus our LORD and Saviour by faith, God's people are received by God according to His grace.  We are sinners, and God sent us a Saviour.  God knew what mankind needed and gave us the perfect gift, the Person of Jesus Christ the LORD.  Hebrews 13:15 is the perfect response in light of all God has done for and given us through Jesus:  "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."  Let us give thanks unto our LORD freely, for He is good.