Coffee With The Lord

THANKSGIVING… What would you say is the best way to express it to God?

In the Bible, this inspired phrase is used over and over again and becomes THE STANDARD FOR THANKSGIVING! …

“OH GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD; HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER!” (ESV)

Consider this…

It became the “STANDARD BIBLICAL” phrase to encourage giving of thanks… Check out these passages where it is used! 1 Chronicles 16:8-36 (esp. vss. 34, 41); 2 Chronicles 5:13-14; 7:1-3; 20:20-22; Ezra 3:10-11; Psalm 100:1-5; 106:1-2; 107:1-32 (esp. vss. 1-3, 31-32); 118:1-29 (esp. vss. 1-4, 28-29); 136:1-26 (esp. vss. 1-3, 26 and each “His steadfast love endures forever!) and finally Jeremiah 33:10-13!

It summarizes WHAT God does that is worthy of thanks… all the wonderful things He does… He is “GOOD!”

It also captures WHO God is… His very character that makes Him worthy of thanksgiving – His “steadfast love,” His mercy,” His “grace,” His “lovingkindness” that endures forever! (All these are translations of the Hebrew word “Hesed”) It describes God’s covenant keeping love! (Check out Psalm 103:8-13, 17-18; Lamentations 3:21-23; and Romans 8:35-39)

And what are we urged to do? … “OH GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD!”

What am I going to do? I’m going to make it my sincere, heartfelt, “THANKSGIVING MANTRA” on this “Thanksgiving Day” (and every day and occasion that I have an opportunity!!!

As a young man growing up, I remember my Dad reminding me, “Son, behave yourself! Remember who you are! (and the implied message was… “You are a “Bartel” – don’t damage our reputation or discredit our “name!”).

The importance of that exhortation is only amplified as it relates to our behavior as “Christians” … (After all, we bear the name of Christ!)! Our lifestyle and testimony is important and it must not be sullied or damaged in any way!

Tragically, in the polarized political and cultural climate where we are called upon to live out our Christian values today, some who claim the name of Christ have fallen prey to vitriolic discourse and rebellious behavior.

The inspired words of Apostle Peter that I read this morning, delivered to his Christian audience in the 1st century sound a lot like my Dad..

“Be subject FOR THE LORD’S SAKE to every human institution… For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, but never using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone! Love the brotherhood [fellow Christians]! Fear God! Honor the emperor [duly appointed political leaders]! Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God!” (From 1 Peter 2:13–20 ESV)

Wow! Ouch!! …Challenging in our present political/cultural climate, eh? How can it be done? Well the very next verses that follow provide the answer… We claim to be “CHRISTians” – follow the example of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord!

“…For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, LEAVING YOU AN EXAMPLE, SO THAT YOU MIGHT FOLLOW IN HIS STEPS. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (From 1 Peter 2:21–24 ESV)

My prayer! … Oh Lord, help me always to behave in a way that honors Your Name and expresses Your values! May You, in every way – every day – in every situation, be my example! Remember this saying? … “What Would Jesus Do?” – “WWJD!”

A wonderful word to those who may feel marginalized, excluded, rejected (in this case it was gentile persecuted believers)…

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9–10 ESV)