Give Thanks Part 2: How to Worship God Properly
In this second week of Thanksgiving, we are focusing on verses two and three of Psalm 100, The Psalm of Thanksgiving. Psalm 100 goes like this: Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. For some people, worshiping God is a chore. For some, it is just empty mindless church activity. For some, giving thanks is mechanical and void of any thought or passion. In verses two and three, David tells us how we should be worshipping: with gladness, with singing, with joy and appreciation, acknowledging all that He has done for us and is doing for us on a daily basis. In ancient times, an expression of gratitude was in offerings to God, called “The Thank Offering” or “the sacrifice of thanksgiving.” In a broader, Christian context, a thank offering encompasses various acts of gratitude, including voluntary financial offerings, worship, and living as a “living sacrifice” to honor God. Today, this is what we are calling all Christians in our Church to do.