Numbers 8-9 / Mark 13:14-37 / Psalm 50 / Proverbs 10:29-30
There were many directions I could have taken with today’s readings. And I thought about talking about our need to be on guard – stay alert – and watch for Him! While that would have been a great topic, I found myself drawn to two phrases in Psalm 50.
The two phrases are mostly the same. Verse 14 states “Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God…” and verse 23 states “…giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.”
Has anyone considered that giving thanks is a sacrifice? When I’d rather complain, I may choose to give thanks. When I’d rather be angry or negative, I may choose to give thanks. When I make this choice, I am truly honoring the Lord. What does it mean to honor the Lord?
When I looked up the word honor in the Strong’s Concordance it is the word Kabad, which is heavy or weighty. It also means to bear up under anything or to endure adversity. As I pondered this, I thought of the scales of justice with two plates upon which to balance weights.
What if I find myself in hard circumstances that are weighing me down? There is weight or heaviness to the trial, causing the scales to tip in a negative direction. Conversely, what if I choose to give thanks to God in my circumstance? The other side of the scale is now… balanced? Or heavier? I guess that’s up to the weight of my thanksgiving.
I have a feeling we can give thanks in such a manner as to cause the scales to tip in my favor! Half-hearted thanks won’t work because the scales will still be tipped negatively. If I want to tip the scales in my favor, I must commit to extravagant thanks!
This reminds me of a scripture in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 which states Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
What are you facing today? Allow your giving of thanks to tip the scales in your favor!
