O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever! Psalm 30:12
There was never a man who ever lived more grateful, more thankful, more full of praise than Jesus Christ. His gratitude to the heavenly Father was perfect thanksgiving— untainted, unselfish, unbridled, unwavering and eternal. We must be grateful He was.
The best of our thanksgiving is weak and full of the corruptions of sinful flesh— even our gratitude expressed by God’s grace falls short. Even those who object must confess that they are not eternally grateful— not full of thanksgiving for all things God has bestowed upon them. If we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that there have been many, many times since we’ve been saved when we have not been thankful, when gratitude was fleeting. At the very least, we must acknowledge our thanksgiving is not eternal. The only one who has been able to give “forever” thanks is Jesus Christ.
Yet, because the Lord Jesus Christ has given perfect, eternal thanks to His heavenly Father with His righteous life, our praise and thanksgiving to God, as imperfect as it may be, is received by the heavenly Father through Christ’s sinless gratitude.
As Christians, we are commanded to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Th 5:18). Why? When we do, we acknowledge God’s wisdom and absolute sovereignty in all His creation. It also acknowledges the wisdom and sovereignty of the gospel of Jesus Christ’s brutal crucifixion upon a Roman cross.
Holy, sovereign, good and thankful Is Lord Jesus, holy God; With thanksgiving let us praise Him And His glory ever laud.
By imputed righteousness God receives our praise; For Christ did thank and He did bless Forever, all His days.
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Today's M'Cheyne Reading Schedule: 4/19 - Lev 23; Psa 30; Ecc 6; 2 Tim 2
If you don’t have one, get a free PDF copy of Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s “Daily Bread” Bible Reading Calendar by Clicking Here.
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Jon Cardwell writes devotional thoughts like the one above & sends them via email daily (except Sunday). Go to www.calvarybaptistninilchik.com/devotionals.html or click the optional weblink below.