Psalm 50:23
“He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honours Me;
And to him who orders his way aright
I shall show the salvation of God.” – NASB
The life that pleases Me is a life lived in the gratitude of grace,
always choosing to walk with Me in what is right.
This is the sacrifice I desire from you.
If you do this, more of my salvation
will unfold for you.” – The Passion Translation
The theme for today’s devotion “Sacrifice of Thanksgiving” is adapted from one of the weekly intercessions with Mission GTA.
What is a “sacrifice of thanksgiving?” There are 2 possible explanations:
1) It’s something that we bring to God as we worship Him. – an offering of thanks and praise that comes naturally during our good times.
2) It’s an offering that costs us something – a thanksgiving to Him in spite of our bad times.
Last Wednesday during the Life-Spring intercession, though Gabe was disappointed because his vacation with his family had to be cancelled, he gave thanks to God that He was with his family. This is a sacrifice of thanksgiving – thanking God in spite of difficult circumstances, or personal feelings.
This year’s Thanksgiving celebration is different and more challenging than before. In spite of our tough situation, let’s choose to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving. There are at least 4 reasons for our offering:
- We are not alone.
- God is sovereign.
- We have hope.
- We have God.
First, we can choose to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving because we are not alone. Recent research has found that people who live in big cities are lonelier than those living in less urban environment. One reason is because they aren’t having “more face-to-face interactions with other people.” Even introverts who have been isolated this long (since March) want some interaction. (Ifpress.com – Column: Amid pandemic isolation, you’re not alone at feeling alone)
Going through a crisis with your loved ones, friends, neighbours, etc. is definitely more comforting than going through it all by yourself. Thank God for them! Besides, God is also going through the difficult situation with us. He has not left us, nor forsaken us. (Hebrew 13:5) One way to keep myself sane is to talk to God when there’s no one to talk to. And lately, I find myself talking to Him more … (wait a second, is this what He wanted all along? I wonder …!)
Secondly, we can choose to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving because God is sovereign. He is still in-charge! Psalm 103:19 says that “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all.” (NASB)
God was not caught by surprise when covid-19 hit the world. He knew it all along. When we look at the work that God is doing in His kingdom (e.g. refer to Jerry’s sharing of a video featuring a mass baptism in Thailand), it’s obvious that God still fulfils His purposes in spite of the pandemic. His plan has not changed. He wants the world to be saved. And He wants His bride to emerge glorious and victorious. In God’s kingdom, nothing is wasted, even our suffering!
Thirdly, we can choose to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving because we have hope in Him.
Definition of hope – In the Bible, hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised and its strength is in His faithfulness. (google.com)
Power of hope – Hope is the belief that circumstances will get better. It’s not a wish for things to get better — it’s the actual belief, the knowledge that things will get better, no matter how big or small.
Characteristics of hope – Hope discovers what can be done instead of grumbling about what cannot be done. Hope draws its power from a deep trust in God. Hope regards problems, small or large, as opportunities. Hope cherishes no illusions, nor does it yield to cynicism. (adapted from google.com)
Romans 15:13 – Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NASB) With hope in God, we could confidently say: And this too shall pass!
Finally, we can choose to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving because we have God. Realize that when we have God, we have everything because of His “self-sufficiency.”
2 Corinthians 9:8 – And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (NKJ)
First, God’s “self-sufficiency” refers to His sufficiency in and of Himself. He has enough in Himself to denominate and be completely blessed, as a God of infinite perfection. God possesses infinite riches of being, wisdom, goodness, and power in and of Himself. Because He possesses these unfathomable riches in the perfect knowledge and love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God is the “blessed” or “happy” God. – 1 Timothy 6:15 (adapted from w.reformation21.org)
Second, God’s “all-sufficiency” refers to His sufficiency for us. God’s self-sufficiency is not self-enclosed or self-absorbed, but opens itself up as a treasure trove in the presence of our needy condition. He is able to communicate as much blessedness to His creatures, as He is pleased to make them capable of receiving; and therefore, He is able not only to supply all their wants, but to do exceedingly above all that they ask or think. – Ephesians 3:20 (adapted from w.reformation21.org)
As such, we are of all people, the most blessed and should be the most thankful and joyful.
Isaiah 61:10 – I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness … (NKJ)
Someone said: Times of difficulties are also times of opportunities. Let’s share the hope and God we have with those who have neither.