Psalms 100:1-5 NLT
Shout with joy to the lord , all the earth!
Worship the lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people,
the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him
and praise his name.
For the lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
PERSONAL COMMENTARY
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Yes, we have so much to be thankful for.
God had given us so much. He provides for our needs, both physical and spiritual, when we trust in Him. He comforts us in our times of struggle. He is our strength to overcome the challenges that we face, turning them into opportunities. He teaches us the wisdom of His ways and He proves Himself faithful and trustworthy when we walk upright in a repentant life obeying His commandments. He fills us with joy, peace, patience, and we know the fruit of his Holy Spirit as He touches us, breaks us, heals us, and remolds us in His hands. He saves us, renews us, forgives us, and frees us from the bondage of sin, shame, and guilt into a new life as we are day by day becoming more like our teacher.
So let’s shout!
Let’s sing His praises!
Even when we’ve stumbled, He uses it to teach us and convict us and show us the harm and the absence of love in a lawless life. Even when we judge and complain and grumble about others, He uses it to teach us the foolishness of not forgiving and loving others and falling into legalism.
Yes, He shows us the narrow path of love.
And He let’s us lie down in the trust that is believing that we are His and He is ours.
We have so much to celebrate, friends!
We are forgiven!
We are renewed!
Today, we are washed white as snow by the cleansing Blood of the Lamb, by the spotless and perfect sacrifice of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who died on the Cross for me and for you!
Yes, we have much to be thankful for – that He loves us. Yes, that He has extended His mercy and grace to us through this message of the Good News of Jesus Christ, so that we hear His still quiet voice tugging at our heart, calling us – and we will know Him, love Him, turn from our evil ways, and see Him come into our lives and effect change on the inside to our attitude and our very being.
Seriously, isn’t that worthy of praise? Isn’t that worthy of getting excited about the Lord?
Are we dead in our religious practices, forgetting what an amazing gift we have been given?
Do we need revival to get us out of our pews and both onto our knees and up on our feet shouting His praises with our arms reaching out to Him?
Are we only praising the Lord in word and song, but never making it personal, never truly entering into a state of personal worship in the presence of God?
Are we seeking the very presence of God, raising our praises TO GOD, or are we only fulfilling our religious obligations, enjoying a time to receive FOR OURSELVES a “self help lesson” and an “entertaining show”.
It’s more about God and less about me.
If we get stuck on “bless me, bless me”, how much time do we spend blessing the Lord, who is worthy of all blessings and praise and honor?
So, let’s bless the Lord, He deserves it, and He is worthy.
He doesn’t want dead religious practice and obligation, He doesn’t seek sacrifice – He seeks mercy, love, forgiveness, praise and worship.
Let’s give Him today what He wants, a change in our hearts that leads to a life of love. And in love, there is no evil done to one another.
So let’s find love in our lives today friend, let’s be love, and let’s bless the Lord with our lives today.
Harold J. Ballinger 