Today’s Reading:
Psalms 100:1-5
“Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” (v, 3, NIV)
Appreciation is a feeling or expression of gratitude, a favourable opinion of something. It is also recognition and liking of something’s qualities, a full understanding of the meaning and importance of something. It can also be a feeling of being thankful to somebody for doing something important and valuable. This is a call to serve God through our daily appreciation for His goodness and faithfulness to us. People everywhere are to serve the LORD with gladness through joyful songs. Because the LORD is sovereign, we need to praise and worship Him joyfully. Beloved, since we are His possession, as we trust Him, we need to follow Him daily for we are the sheep of His pasture for good direction. People should praise the LORD for His goodness, love and faithfulness. Since these benefits endure from generation to generation, so every generation that experiences God’s goodness, love and faithfulness should join in praising Him.
According to the exhortation of Apostle Paul to the Ephesians (Ephesians 5:18-20), we, as believers need to be filled with the spirit of God and the evidence of this fullness is that we need to be joyful, thankful and submissive. These three characteristics of the believer controlled by the spirit of God and God’s word are together and presented in this wonderful Psalm of thanksgiving. It is the responsibility of a believer to introduce the unbelievers to the true and living God through our sincere worship and service. As we are controlled by the Holy Spirit of God, and the Holy Word of God, we will reveal it in the way we worship God. Instead of imitating the world, we will be led by the Word of God and the Spirit to be joyful in the LORD, submissive to the LORD and thankful to the LORD and the world we see the difference.
Beloved, this is a call to preach the gospel to every creature in order to make them all disciples of the LORD and it is then that we are serving God with appreciation. It is also an invitation to worship God by devoting not only our time but also ourselves to His service and employ ourselves in it by coming into His presence daily. A spirit of thanksgiving helps to overcome some of the sins that often invade our lives. A thankful spirit is a triumphant spirit.
OYEYEMI GABRIEL OYEBISI
Prayer:
Father, thank You for the gift of life, in Jesus mighty name.
Father, remove every spirit of ingratitude from my life, in Jesus name.
Father, help us to demonstrate your goodness to the unbelievers through our worship, in Jesus name.
Father, help us to submit to your will and plan daily in order to enjoy your goodness, in Jesus mighty name.
Father, help our churches to always appreciate your goodness and faithfulness, in Jesus name.
Father, help our nations to realize your goodness and faithfulness that will lead to sincere appreciation, in Jesus mighty name.
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