Psalm 50 brings to life who God is and what He alone does for mankind. As believers we are told in verses 14 and 15 the part thanks plays in our attitude towards God.
Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God,
and keep the vows you made to the Most High.
Then call on me when you are in trouble,
and I will rescue you,
and you will give me glory.”
God desires us to live a life filled with thankfulness, making thanks a sacrificial offering to God. It is not to be an after thought of faith but a living sacrifice always on our lips. Thankfulness on our lips brings honor and glory to God. Hearing our thanks, God promises to always to be ready to hear our pleas. God loves us and desires to hear from us- both thanksgiving and petitions. Remembering to put thanks and praise before petitions is honoring to God and puts things in perspective. He is the God who is able to do all we ask, let us thank Him even before we ask.
Later in the Psalm the unbeliever or the one who has fallen away from God is addressed. 16 “But God says to the wicked: 22 Repent, all of you who forget me, 23 But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” Here God is reminding us again that thanks honors Him and will point us towards salvation. It does not save us but turns us around and points us to God, the only one who can save us in Jesus Christ. James 4:7-8a says it this way: “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. ” God wants us to draw near to him with repentance and thanksgiving on our lips. He promises to reveal himself to us and show us the way of salvation.
I was convicted by this What if… thought today. May you have thanksgiving on your lips all day; it is honoring to Him!
Linda
Fearless Living 