Enter His Gates With Thanksgiving
The writer O.S. Hawkins wrote in his book, Good News for Great Days, this thought provoking paragraph. Someone has noted that if you reduce the world population to 1,000 and put them all in one city it would have quite a distinctive look. Only 46 of the 1,000 would be Americans. Nine hundred and fifty-four would represent the rest of the world. Yet, these 46 would receive half of the income from the entire city. These 46 people’s life expectancies would be 75 years of age while the rest would be 40 years of age. These 46 people would eat 70% above the daily food requirements while 80% of the rest of the city would never get a balanced meal. In fact, the kitchen disposals of the 46 people would eat better than 80% of the city.
We should be extremely thankful for what God has blessed us with as Americans as a people. All of us right now have a lot for which to give thanks. As we look at our present condition and possessions, we should be bubbling over with thanks to God. But I fear that we have grown too comfortable and far too ungrateful for all that God has done for us. What happens too often is that we look at what others have and we want those things. We no longer give thanks to God for what He has given already. We display an ungrateful spirit, which says that we deserve what we have. Such a spirit says, “I have worked hard to get what I have and no one has given it to me. I deserve it all.”
Now we would expect this attitude of the lost world, but it is not to be so among God’s children. Paul tells us in Eph 5:20, Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In fact, Paul tells us that giving thanks is God’s will for His children.
1 Thess 5:18 In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
David understood this and led the nation of Israel in worship to God. He proclaimed before the people the wondrous works of God, giving thanks as a means of worship. On the day that the people brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, David’s psalm of worshipful thanks was song, 1 Chronicles 16:8-13
Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!
As American Christians, we must not allow the current state of the nation to cause us to lose sight that we are blessed by God to be Americans, and as such, we have an obligation to God and our fellow citizens to pray for it’s wefare, it’s security, it’s Godly calling!
O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Ps 107:1-9
It is not uncommon for people during this time of year to compile wish lists at Christmas, or even draw up a list of resolutions for New Years. But there is another list we often overlook a Thanksgiving list of all for which we are thankful. A list that several housewives compiled: They wrote that they were especially thankful: “For automatic dishwashers because they make it possible for us to get out of the kitchen before the family comes back in for their after dinner snacks.
For husbands who attack small repair jobs around the house because they usually make them big enough to call in the professionals.
For children who put away their things & clean up after themselves. They’re such a joy you hate to see them go home to their own parents
For teenagers because they give parents an opportunity to learn a second language.
For Smoke alarms because they let you know when the turkey’s done.
Now the believers should have much more for which to be thankful than just our material possessions. We should be thankful for our salvation, our church family, & the mercy that God showers upon us each day. With Jesus we have so much for which to celebrate on Thanksgiving! Our forefathers had “a boundless faith in God.” That almost sounds strange today in a time when powerful forces are at work in our nation to strip us of every reminder that the very foundation of our nation was built upon the conviction that we are “one nation, under God.”
In 1789, George Washington made this public proclamation. A proclamation: Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, & humbly to implore His protection & favor, and
“Whereas, Both Houses of Congress” by their joint committee requested me `to recommend to the people of the United States a day of Public Thanksgiving & Prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God. . .’
“Now, Therefore I do recommend & assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great & glorious Being who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. . .” So read the very first Presidential Thanksgiving Proclamation. On Oct 3, 1865 Pres. Lincoln made it a official national holiday.
Now one would assume that because of the example of our forefathers, & because today we have so much, that we would be an extremely thankful people. But it is often just the opposite, isn’t it? The more we get, the less thankful we become, the less mindful of God we are, & the more we want. I think that the 100th Psalm was written to deal with that attitude, to remind us of our need to be thankful, & to maintain an attitude of gratitude.
THE BASIS OF OUR THANKSGIVING
The 100th Psalm was written for the people of Israel. God said to them, “When you come into the Promised Land, & settle down in your warm homes, & you have plenty to eat, don’t forget Me. I led you out of the wilderness & I brought you into a land flowing with milk & honey.”
But it doesn’t take very long to realize that the people of Israel needed a reminder, & I am afraid that we need it, too. Just maybe God had us in mind, also, when this Psalm was written. Did you notice to whom it is addressed? The first verse says that it is addressed to “all the earth,” & the last verse says that it includes “all generations.”
This message of thanksgiving is so deep & wide that it applies to every person in every era in every stage of life. Do you realize that we are the only country in the world, except for Canada & the Philippines, that has a Thanksgiving Day? I wonder how our world would be changed if suddenly all nations would begin to observe Thanksgiving? I think there is something about giving thanks together to God that breaks down barriers between people & brings about a unity, much like that which occurred we we all worship the Lord in here together.
I think also that there is a real danger in this season of determining our thanksgiving on the basis of how much we have.
The Psalmist says that all of these things may change at any time. They may drift away, or burn up, or someone may steal them. The only thing we have for sure is our relationship with the Lord.
And that is what the 100th Psalm emphasizes. Just scan the Psalm. In vs. 1 you’ll find the name of the Lord. In vs. 2 you’ll find the name of the Lord. In vs. 3 you’ll find the name of the Lord. In vs. 4 it says, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving.” And in vs. 5 you’ll find the name of the Lord. The basis of our thanksgiving is the Lord.
to be continualed……..
