The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Thank You"
I recently heard a notable figure say that she begins every day with "Thank you," and concludes each day with the same expression of gratitude. She did not indicate, however, to whom she directs her appreciation.
"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20).
"Ye worship ye know not what. We know what we worship" (John 4:22).
One can send out a "Thank you" unto the universe in the hopes it will reach someone or something worthy of receiving our appreciation. Or, we can express gratitude to the God who actually exists, and who will receive our prayers offered "in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." The latter course leads us to honor the One so worthy of all glory, and also accomplishes much in our hearts as we respond to the reality that we exist as supplicants of God's supply in all things. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17).
Thanksgiving pleases the Giver - "the prayer of the upright is His delight" - because it reveals we understand who He is, and who we are in relationship to Him (Proverbs 15:8). Thereby, our Lord supplies for the deepest and most profound need within the very essence of our being, namely, to know Him as He is, and understand the truth of both Him and ourselves. "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus… What hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" (Philippians 4:19; I Corinthians 4:7).
"This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3).
The simplest Thank You expressed to the living and true God bears far more significance than we can imagine - in Him and in us. Presently, believers offer such gratitude by faith, but also with the assurance that we know who is so worthy of our thanks - and that He is actually there to receive them. We do not merely send out a line in hopes it may find a place to land, but rather words we know will be heard, and hearts we know will be received.
"Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, "To The Unknown God." Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you."
(Acts 17:22-23)
Weekly Memory Verse
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."
(Ephesians 2:13)
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