"Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!"

Thank the Lord for his goodness towards us, and live a holy life.

Obedience evidences that we know God. 1 John 5:3, "For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." All other talk is cheap. Obedience is doing what he says by the Spirit. It's committing your life to spreading the gospel. It's living to make Jesus known. [This privilege has been given to God’s elect, but it is a renunciation of the world and the love thereof.]

These commands come upon us. This is the new life of the believer. This is our mission. We haven't made it up. It's been given to us by God. Ephesians 3:21 — "to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Let us follow it wholeheartedly for our own best life, most useful service, and the best way of saying, "Thank you," to God our King.

First, "let them thank the Lord." He saves us by grace. It's not our good deeds, nor our contribution. It's not anything we’ve done after regeneration. He works everything good in us, and he uses us for his end: to him be glory in the church, and in Christ Jesus - glory in using us to save the elect, walk in holiness, and represent him in the church. He restrains sinfulness, and keeps us going. He gives conviction, wisdom, and warning. He is the difference maker. 1 Corinthians 4:7, "For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?"

Let us ever praise the Lord, rather than glorify ourselves. We're not preaching to be great.

Secondly, "For his steadfast love." He keeps covenant. He delights in mercy. He does not turn his back on sinners, but he instructs us with chastisement, and discipline. Hebrews 12:10, "For [earthly fathers] disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness." This is the special love that God has for his elect, which delivers us from sin. He doesn't take, "No," for an answer.

Bless God for this. Election cannot fail. All who've been given to Christ will come.

Let us preach faithfully. Let's rely on God in prayer. Let's preach, pray, and act in wisdom. We have God working in supernatural and painful ways. Psalms 107:4-6, "Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to an inhabited town; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress;" They will come, receiving the gospel meekly as little children, delighting in being taught. They'll bow fully to righteousness! Isaiah 49:23, "Kings shall be your foster fathers,and their queens your nursing mothers. With their faces to the ground they shall bow down to you, and lick the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame."

Thirdly, "to the children of men." God does this for nobody's, and sinners. He does this for insignificant people who'd otherwise perish, and deserve nothing.

Let's not neglect this wonderful condescension. He who rules the world stoops to use us and save us, but it's not about us! It's about his glorious purpose. He'll do anything to anybody to bring this purpose to pass. It's all about God's glory in the church and in Christ Jesus. It's about living for him.