Honor God with Thanksgiving
(Ps. 50:23)

As we live our lives, there are many times when we grumble and complain rather than giving thanks. Grumbling and complaining are like giving the key to the devil. Through grumbling and complaining, the devil opens the door of our hearts, comes in and steals and kills and destroys our life. Therefore, we must get rid of grumbling and complaining and live a life of thanksgiving and praise. When we honor God with thanksgiving and praise, God works and grants amazing grace and miracles in our life.

1. Resentment and complaint
1) Resentment and complaint bring scary consequences. Even though God has granted tremendous grace, the Israelites endlessly grumbled and complained whenever they faced hardships.
2) Despite the Israelites’ grumbling and complaining, God was patient, and He took care of them and guided them. However, the Israelites didn’t stop their words of unfaithfulness, resentment and complaint. Consequently, they couldn’t enter the land that God had promised.

2. Thanksgiving and praise
1) Thanksgiving and praise bring God’s miracles. When King Jehoshaphat of Judah was invaded by enemy forces, he told the people to rely on God. He appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army. As they began to sing and praise, God worked, and they gained great victory.
2) Thanksgiving and praise bring miracles that honor God. In addition, thanksgiving and praise conquer doubts that come to our hearts and resentment and complaint.

3. Our thanksgiving
1) Jesus said, “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26) We must first give thanks for receiving salvation by believing in Jesus and for becoming God’s children.
2) God has made us as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a people belonging to God. When our life ends on this land, God made us to live in eternal heaven where there is no tear and worry and groaning. It is a place where there is no mourning or crying or pain. When we think about this grace, we are bound to thank God.