Nov. 20, 2022

“LIVING WITH AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE”

PSALM 100:1-5

We have so much that sometimes we can't see the great value of all God has given us. That is ingratitude.

Francis Schaeffer once said, "The beginning of man's rebellion against God was, and is, the lack of a thankful heart.”

 Here in Psalm 100 we are given an admonition to thank the Lord for who He is and what He has done. We are told how to thank Him, and when and where to thank Him.

1. He Is Worthy Of Praise

Psalm 100:1 “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!”

Psalm 16:11 “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

The word “shout” or "noise" means to break forth with, or to burst. It sends the imagery of someone who is so full of an emotion that they are unable of containing themselves.

2. He Is Worthy Of Service

Psalm 100:2 “Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.”

Service to the Lord implies three things:

1. Humility

1 Peter 5:6 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”

2. Fidelity - service implies faithfulness
3. Activity - you can't serve someone if you don't do anything.

1 John 3:16 “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

A man who is greedy is destined to a life of unhappiness. Why? 

"Why do I have to do this for God? Haven't I done enough already?" 

John Maxwell puts it: "The instant we are born, we already owe someone for nine months of room and board . . . and we never really pay that back."

We can never do enough to say thanks to our Lord.

We are not to serve the Lord out of Greed, with a grudge or as a grind. We are to serve with gladness.

3. He Alone Is God

Psalm 100:3 “Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” 

We have no claim, no right to our own lives. They belong to Him.

We are His people, the sheep of His pasture. We are His representatives here on earth. As His sheep He leads us, provides for us, guides us, comforts us, protects us, and prospers us. He alone is the source of all our blessings.

4. He Is Worthy Of Our Praise

Psalm 100:4 “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.”

When the Scripture tells us to bless the Lord it is telling us that we must profess, acknowledge, accredit, recognize, and confess with our words and deeds that God alone is the source of all true happiness and blessings in life. 

5. God Is Good

Psalm 100:5 “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.”

There is no one else about whom these things can be said.

* Take Note

This means to Live with awareness. 

Take note. Become aware. Open your eyes to the world around you. It will shock you, but it will also cause you to be grateful.

* Take Inventory

. . . of your blessings. I like the old song, "Count your Many Blessings." 

Have you stopped to count the blessings in your life lately? 

If we focus on the wrong things we will never see the good things. Take inventory of the blessings and stop focusing on the things that could go wrong.

*  Take Action

Turn your attitude of gratitude into an action of appreciation. Do something good for someone else.

How about you? Does your life presently demonstrate a sense of gratitude to God? 

Is there joy in your life? Does it show? How have you demonstrated your gratitude to Christ lately?