Thanksgiving as the basis of worship
May the peace and grace from our Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied in your life on this wonderful day! I pray for the Word of God to penetrate and strengthen your spirit, soul and body. We continue talking about the importance of thanksgiving in the life of a believer. Today I would like to discuss thanksgiving as the basis of worship. Grateful heart is the foundation of worship and godly living. Worship is life that is dedicated to God and it implies close interaction with God. It says in the Bible that God is looking for worshippers:
«But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth» (John, 4:23-24).
God is seeking worshippers; it is not because He is selfish, but because He wants to bless people. Those who know God a little or know about Him know that God is love. He only wants good for people, so He seeks worshippers in order to bless them. There is fullness of life and happiness in the worship of God:«You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore» (Psalm, 16:11).
Worship contains not only fullness of life, but pleasures as well. Saint Augustine said: “ You created us for Yourself, and our hearts are full of confusion until we find our peace in You!» There is no peace for a human soul outside of God, because man was created to fellowship with God. God said through Prophet Isaiah:«This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise» (Isaiah, 43:21).
We are created for God; we are created to find pleasure in Him, so outside of Him we won’t ever have real enjoyment.- There is no enjoyment in work, no matter how good it is.
- There is no enjoyment in education, even though it is important.
- There is no enjoyment in art, even though it affects us.
- There is no enjoyment in riches, even though wealth plays a significant role in human life.
«Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. How long will you attack a man? You shall be slain, all of you, like a leaning wall and a tottering fence. They only consult to cast him down from his high position; they delight in lies; they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Surely men of low degree are a vapour, men of high degree are a lie; if they are weighed on the scales, they are altogether lighter than vapour. Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them. God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God. Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; for You render to each one according to his work» (Psalm 62).
God seeks worshippers because through worship God wants to give them peace and fulfilment! So worship is the source of life fulfilment and thanksgiving is the foundation of worship. The lack of gratitude in a person’s heart robs him of the joy of the fellowshipping with God and the joy of ministering to Him.- Thanksgiving to God is the reason of ministry!
- Thanksgiving to God is the reason for sacrificial living!
- Thanksgiving to God is the core of a holy life!
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