Give Thanks to the LORD

"Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. ²  Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. ³  Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever..."

Psalm 136:1-3

It is good to give thanks to the LORD for all He has done, to show gratitude by remembrance for all He has provided.  In our giving of thanks let us not forget God is worthy of thanks and praise at all times, in all seasons of life.  The psalmist exhorts us to give thanks to the LORD because of His character, because of who He is.  He is the LORD, He is good, the God of gods, the Lord of lords, and His mercy endures forever.

Consider the rather lengthy definition of "mercy" by Webster in his 1828 Dictionary:  "That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forbear punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant.  In this sense, there is perhaps no word in our language precisely synonymous with mercy.  That which comes nearest to it is grace.  It implies benevolence, tenderness, mildness, pity or compassion, and clemency, but exercised only towards offenders.  Mercy is a distinguishing attribute of the Supreme Being."  It is within God's power and right to immediately and severely punish all offenders, but His mercy endures forever.  He is gracious and slow to anger, and as a sinner I am most thankful.

I am also thankful God's mercy is extended to those who do not know God or are even in rebellion against Him.  I am glad He is patient and longsuffering, willing to endure decades and centuries of disobedience so people might repent and be saved.  Let us not make the error of mistaking God's mercy for approval of sin or that we will not be required to answer to Him for our lack of mercy towards others.  Having received such mercy from God, let us be thankful when we are divinely helped to extend it to others.  Thank God for being such a benevolent God, the One worthy of all praise and trust.  His mercy endures forever, and by His grace Christians will live as beneficiaries of Him forever!

The Benefit of Forgetting

If there is a benefit of forgetting, it is the goodness of God's reminders.  When I feel like I do not need reminders, I do not appreciate them.  I have been guilty in the past of a sigh or an eye-roll after a well-intended reminder of something not yet forgotten.  But we all forget, don't we?  Instead of being annoyed when I am reminded, I aim to be thankful in the future.

Today I experienced a good example of the benefit of forgetting.  I had coordinated the installation of a dedicated circuit with an electrician at church.  His card reader wasn't working properly, so he left an invoice with the bank details of the company.  Soon after I began to wrap up a little plumbing project and completely forgot about the invoice I had agreed to pay later in the day.  As I locked up the building, I noticed my watch was missing.  Ah yes, I had removed the watch to finish connecting braided flex lines.  I walked back into the building to see my watch AND the outstanding invoice laying on the bench.  I was grateful to God I had forgotten to put on my watch, otherwise I would have forgotten about the invoice and driven home - and consequently added an extra trip to and from church.

How thankful I was for the reminder!  We all need reminders of God's love and promises to us, and these often come through the Bible and people.  Just today I received a sweet note someone had remembered me, and it was very special.  To be reminded a person loves you is a priceless gift.  Scripture is full of reminders.  Joshua was overwhelmed at the prospect of leading God's people into the land of promise, and God reminded him during a single conversation in Joshua 1:9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."  You may have forgotten many things God has said or done for you, but as an obedient child of God today remember this:  be strong and of good courage, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go!

We forget, but God never forgets us.  He never forgets what He has promised.  He is forever faithful and let us bring Him into remembrance.  Many times in scripture people who trusted God prayerfully reminded Him of what He had said and God heard them gladly.  Admitting I forget makes me appreciate reminders more than ever.

Hope for All

During my study of the book of Isaiah I have come to a realisation:  there is always hope for individuals in God, even if a nation is "off the rails."  A day came when the northern kingdom of Israel fell and was never rebuilt.  Because Israel rebelled from God, committed abomination, and refused to return, God put the northern kingdom away.  He even allowed Jerusalem to fall at the hands of the Babylonians and temporarily caused Judah to go into captivity.  The seventy years of separation not only worked to purify the land of sin, but to restore a remnant to Himself who would return and remain faithful to Him.  Even in a land riddled with idolatry and abominations, God reserves for Himself loyal people who love Him.

Because the people in Jerusalem refused to repent and return to the LORD, ultimately the LORD caused it to fall at the hands of their enemies.  From a wordly vantage point it seems in times of judgment the righteous are made to suffer with the wicked.  But from a spiritual perspective we see those who trust in the LORD find strength and comfort in Him in spite of pain and loss.  For all our pain God provides abundant consolation (2 Cor. 1:3-7).  God proclaimed in Isaiah 45:22, "Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other."  Even when a nation is far from God, God promises to draw near to all individuals who call to Him in Psalm 145:18:  "The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth."  God shows no favouritism when it comes to love, forgiveness, divine acceptance, and salvation as we read in Romans 10:12-13, "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. ¹³ For 'whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.'"

We do not serve a "what have you done for me lately" God but a God who looks for opportunities to to show Himself strong on behalf of all those whose hearts are loyal and full of Him (2 Chron. 16:9).  This principle, that there is always assurance of salvation and deliverance for the person who trusts and calls to God, rings true in nations ruined by sin, corrupt governments, failed businesses, fractured churches, and broken families.  Organisations may fall apart, marriages might dissolve, and relationships between parents and children may be severed, and physical health be abysmal, but there is salvation for whoever calls upon the name of the LORD.  Your life may seem to be painfully torn into pieces, but there is safety, protection, healing, and wholeness for all - for you - if you will call upon the name of Jesus Christ.

The grim reality is most of the time we do not believe this.  We carefully devise our escape routes, scheme backup and contingency plans, and forget by worrying we cannot accomplish a thing.  Even if we have a perfect plan, it does not mean we have the power or ability to put it into practice - much less change the hearts or minds of others!  Listen:  look to God and be saved!  There is no bondage too great, sin too abhorrent, generational curse so powerful the blood of Jesus cannot cleanse and redeem.  No host of demons can overpower Jesus, no prognosis is so awful God is hamstrung, and no situation so convoluted God is confused or overwhelmed.  God is rich over all who call upon Him, so call upon the name of the LORD in faith and be saved.  There is hope in Christ this world cannot know, an absolute assurance based upon the Word of God which is eternal and will never pass away, that Jesus is a Saviour who loves you and will never leave or forsake you.

There is no genuine hope for anyone from this world, but there is hope for all who love God.  Look to Jesus and call upon Him fervently with expectancy.  Do not be impatient or weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not (Gal. 6:9).  Those who endure to the end will be saved.

God's Home

As a child I had the impression the church building was an important place.  It was place for keeping your voice down and walking only.  It was a place where it was polite to remove your hat and treat with respect.  It was "God's house," after all.  Thinking back, however, I can't recall a single occasion when I actually met with God by virtue of being in a particular building or room.  Tradition sanctifies a room or location over another when God seeks to meet with people who love and trust Him wherever they might be.

The church is God's house in one sense, but not the way you might expect.  When the tabernacle and temples stood in Israel, the presence of God dwelt within the most holy place.  But after the veil was rent, Jesus ascended into heaven and the Holy Spirit was sent, God makes His dwelling place in each person who comprises the church - the Body of Christ.  The church is not a building but people!  Paul proclaimed to an idolatrous culture in Acts 17:24, "God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands."  Paul incredulously asked believers in 1 Corinthians 6:19, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?"  We are the temple of God not made with hands.  Jesus affirmed the kingdom of God is within us (Luke 17:31).

Now there is nothing wrong in itself to set aside dedicated places or times to worship God, being mindful to walk in love towards others who have come away to seek fellowship with God and followers of Jesus.  But God's presence is no nearer to you in the "sanctuary" in a church building than in a public toilet at a park.  If we will humble ourselves to draw near to God, He has promised to draw near to us.  James 4:8 exmphasises the need for repentance and purity in seeking the LORD:  "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."  By faith we love and trust God.  In Israel today it is said God's presence never leaves the Western Wall, and that is why many go there to pray.  Jesus said He is the Way, Truth, and Life, and when we choose to believe and obey God will come to us.  It is written in John 14:23:  "Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."

Isn't it remarkable Jesus comes to us and stands and knocks at the door of our hearts?  Our belief and obedience is the key which opens to the door to fellowship and intimate relationship with God.  Jesus will not summon a divine S.W.A.T. team to smash the door in.  He calls your name because He knows you, loves you, and wants to spend time with you.  Out of respect for a salesman we will open the door and tell him we are not interested:  shouldn't we open the door to Christ and let Him take possession of the home He joyfully paid for with His own blood?