Our pastor, Bob Sorensen, his wife, Darlene, and children, Luke, and Sally, returned home Saturday after a Thanksgiving visit with Darlene’s parents, Don and Doris Taschner, in St. Louis.
Dan Stillings sang a special Sunday morning. The Jubilee Singers sang in the evening. Pastor Sorensen brought a message on “Giving Thanks unto the Lord” from Psalm 107:1-8.
There are many reasons why we should give thanks unto the Lord. God is good, his mercy endures forever, he has redeemed us out of the hand of the enemy, and he delivers the “down and out” when they call upon his name.
Everything that proceeds from God is good. We may judge “goodness” from our perspective according to our experiences in the world. But God’s goodness can be judged by truth and righteousness. God’s goodness will endure continually forever. God’s goodness will lead us to repentance.
God’s mercy will endure forever to the redeemed. His mercy is boundless. By his mercy he has preserved his own. It is by his grace that we are not consumed by his wrath for all have sinned. He has pardoned the repentant sinner. It is not merely a “parole” that leaves the sinner always at risk to be lost again, but a free and absolute “pardon.”
We should give thanks because God has redeemed us out of the clutches of Satan. He no longer has control of our destiny. Our citizenship is in heaven. We have been told that God will gather his own out of the four corners of the earth, and his call still goes out no matter where you live. We are to take that good news out to the uttermost parts of the earth, even to places like Mongolia, Thailand, and the Philippians.
We should give thanks because God delivers the “down and out.” When Israel wandered hungry, thirsty, and fainting in the wilderness, when they called upon his name, he delivered them. God has the answer for every crisis. The least we can do is to give thanks.
What is the result of being unthankful? A generation that is not thankful becomes lawless, self- centered, without restraint, and takes pleasure in every kind of wicked behavior.
How do we express our gratitude? By saying thanks, by obeying his commandments and by telling others about the wondrous works of the Lord.
