Integrity- People of God

This is the month our country has dedicated a day to give thanks to God. Let us take time to prepare afresh our hearts for giving thanks to God for all He has done for us.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They tell of the power of your awesome works— and I will proclaim your great deeds. They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. (Psalm 145:3-7 NIV)
The very first time the phrase “give thanks” is mentioned in the Old Testament it speaks of The God Who avenges and delivers from our enemies. He delivers us from violent men in the midst of unbelievers. Therefore we should give thanks to the Lord among the skeptics and doubters. We should sing praises to His Name because He has delivered us from our enemies.  In the Bible, names described a person’s character.  Their name spoke of who they were on the inside, their characteristics. That is why we give praise to God and we praise His Name. When we praise God’s name we are giving glory and honor to Him and thanking Him for Who He is, for His attributes and for His Character.

2 Samuel 22:48-10 NKJV                        It is God who avenges me, And subdues the peoples under me; He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.

2 Samuel 22:48-50 NIV          He is the God who avenges me, who puts the nations under me, who sets me free from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me. Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.

The quote “Give Thanks” is found 35 times in the King James Version of the Bible, 28 times in the Old Testament and 7 times in the New Testament.  The one phrase that is said more than any other in these regarding giving thanks is “O give thanks unto the Lord for He is good for His mercy endures forever.” The number one thing we should give thanks to God for is His mercy that is everlasting and endures to all generations.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!   For His mercy endures forever.   Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever.  Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!  For His mercy endures forever:  To Him who alone does great wonders,  For His mercy endures forever; To Him who by wisdom made the heavens,  For His mercy endures forever; To Him who laid out the earth above the waters,  For His mercy endures forever; Psalm 136:1-6 NKJV

We are thankful for God’s love it was His love that gave to us His only Son Jesus to save us; yet it was His mercy that moved Him to show His love in such a marvelous way. It was mercy that we saw when man first sinned in the garden. God would have been justified to punish man on the spot for treason against the Lord. It was mercy that spoke in Genesis of a Savior that would come and crush the enemy’s head, even though the serpent would strike and bruise the heel of the Savior.  It was mercy that allowed love to send the Son of God Himself to die in our place.

So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:14-15 NIV) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:16-18 NIV)

We as believers in Christ regard every day as a day to give thanks to God.

In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12 NIV)