Giving Thanks to God at All Times
Knowing God is not a religion. It is not a list of do’s and don’ts. It is a relationship. Living in a covenant relationship with our Maker will require us to live differently. It means we acknowledge Him in all of our life, giving thanks to God for His forgiveness and acceptance of us, as well as for all His provision and protection.
Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 25-26 and Nehemiah 4-6
Today’s reading is from Deuteronomy and Nehemiah, so you can enjoy time with family tomorrow on Thanksgiving.
The reading from Deuteronomy sets boundaries for fairness and mercy as man related to one another in a fallen world and in a covenant relationship with God.
Giving Thanks to God at All Times—The Covenant Relationship
Sin is ugly. It has to be dealt with. It separates us from God. And when people violate God’s covenant, they will be held accountable.
Still, some of the laws and consequences seem pretty extreme, like the one about a woman intervening between two fighting men in Deuteronomy 25. I researched these verses and have links you can review on the blog post for today’s reading.
Sometimes when we look at laws set for another time period we can struggle to understand the application to us. The laws can seem harsh when we don’t understand the culture or the behavior.
But one thing remains the same for God’s people back then and today. Remembering what God did for us and giving thanks. He redeemed and rescued us. How then, should we live? How then should we respond to God?
Living out our covenant relationship with God has requirements. God’s people should live in accordance with what God has revealed in His word. God’s people should give their firstfruits to God, the One Who gave everything to them. And God wants His people to give thanks and enjoy what He has given them.
Scripture of the Day: Deuteronomy 26:11
“You, the Levites, and the resident aliens among you will rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given you and your household.”
God wants us to give thanks and rejoice in the good things and in the good God who gives it all. This is fitting as we celebrate Thanksgiving, but should also be our posture all year long.
This position of acknowledging and thanking God keeps our hearts humble. We need to remember that everything we have is from God so we don’t become prideful and think we achieved anything on our own.
Giving Thanks to God at All Times—God Blesses Obedience
As we live in a covenant relationship with God, we obey His precepts and He blesses us.
“The Lord your God is commanding you this day to follow these statutes and ordinances. Follow them carefully with all your heart and all your soul. 17 Today you have affirmed that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in his ways, keep his statutes, commands, and ordinances, and obey him.
18 And today the Lord has affirmed that you are his own possession as he promised you, that you are to keep all his commands, 19 that he will elevate you to praise, fame, and glory above all the nations he has made, and that you will be a holy people to the Lord your God as he promised.”
Friends, as we live in a covenant relationship with God, we will fear Him and walk in His ways. And our God will fight for us and defend us.
Giving Thanks to God at All Times—Especially the Hard Times
The question is, can we give thanks to God even when it seems like the chips are down?
Reading from the book of Nehemiah, God’s people were experiencing a lot of resistance. Nehemiah reminded them that they are supposed to fear God, not man. Nehemiah was lied to and threatened, but it was His relationship with God that saved and protected Him.
When people are against us, it is through the lens of Scripture and the fear of God that we should respond. To vicious rumors, Nehemiah spoke boldly.
“8 Then I replied to him, “There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind.”
Giving Thanks to God at All Times—When Threatened
To threats, Nehemiah listened to God and not the threats.
“I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was restricted to his house. He said: ‘Let’s meet at the house of God, inside the temple. Let’s shut the temple doors because they’re coming to kill you. They’re coming to kill you tonight!’ 11 But I said, “Should a man like me run away? How can someone like me enter the temple and live? I will not go.” 12 I realized that God had not sent him, because of the prophecy he spoke against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 He was hired, so that I would be intimidated, do as he suggested, sin, and get a bad reputation, in order that they could discredit me.
14 My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the other prophets who wanted to intimidate me. 15 The wall was completed in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul. 16 When all our enemies heard this, all the surrounding nations were intimidated and lost their confidence, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.”
The wall was finished in record time! And God fought for them.
Friends, take inventory in your life right now about the victories God has won on your behalf. Let’s give thanks to Jesus for saving us, for being for us and protecting us. Let’s give thanks during good and hard times. Our covenant-keeping God is with us and for us!
Application
- When we are faced with troubles, look to God for our rescue.
- Let’s not take for granted all that God has done for us and give thanks daily.
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁 12 𝗽𝗺 𝗘𝗧.
Day #330-331: Deuteronomy 25-26 and Nehemiah 4-6
𝒱𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒟𝒶𝓎: Deuteronomy 26:11
“You, the Levites, and the resident aliens among you will rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given you and your household.”
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