Reflections on the “Give Thanks to The Lord!” December 3, 2024.
Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are like a great deep. Psalm 148:8.
O Lord, You preserve man and beast. How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. Psalm 36:5-7.
I wondered why a teacher said, after Thanksgiving, Christmas, and celebrating the New Year we can really be able to teach school! I considered her comment when I saw the ‘interruptions’ from a spiritual journey! Learning to be grateful and praising God readies us for meeting Jesus, the Son of God. The New Year creates a new walk as a new creature – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he becomes a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:16-19.
Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that He, Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Psalm 100:1-3.
Why do men try to ‘improve’ on God’s Perfection?
Men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods that God has created to be gratefully shared by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the Word of God and prayer. I Timothy 4:3-5.
Learning to give our troubles and anxieties to God, gives us Peace. Peace, I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27.
As early as Isaiah, knew Jesus was coming 700 years before. Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14. The time for Jesus to be born and an angel of the Lord came. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David, there has been born for you, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:9 – 12.
When John the Baptist baptized, Jesus, God announced who Jesus is: In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.” Mark 1:9-10.
Jesus pleased God by going to the cross to be the sacrifice to make us pleasing to God, and He raised Jesus from the dead. Now the God of peace through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Ephesians 5:1-2.
How does The New Year tie in? People celebrate by staying up late. And usually sorry the next morning. I am sure becoming a new creature isn’t that way. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19.
How do we learn to be a New Creature? From the Bible, we learn to study His Word. O taste and see that the LORD is good. How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Psalm 34: 8.
How long did it take to see that enjoyment is not something we can buy In the world, but God’s pleasures are of the fruit of the Holy Spirit? But the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-23.
How do we love? A new commandment, I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34.
What is the first great commandment? And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’” Matthew 22:37.