SHARING BREAD1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 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.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalms 100:1-5 (NIV)In celebration of Thanksgiving Day, this Sharing Bread is written in honor of the One from whom whose hand all blessings flow. God is worthy of all of our praise. A thankful, appreciative heart points to our knowledge of the Source of our strength, sufficiency, peace and joy. I am reminded of God’s negative reaction to His creatures when usurping His rightful praise by taking the credit for what His hand had bestowed:28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.” Dan 4:28-32 (NIV) I love what Scripture says about this “long haired, clawed, pagan cow king” (Daniel 4:33) when eventually his eyes looked up to heaven: 34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?” Dan 4:34-35 (NIV) 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Dan 4:37 (NIV) A pretty amazing statement indeed from a once pagan king! We, too, would do well to praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven! I love what God tells His servant Job: Who then is able to stand against me? 11 Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me. Job 41:10-11 (NIV) Should we not lift up our voice and praise, with thankful hearts, the Bestower of very good and perfect gift? Is this not His rightful due? Moses did: 1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. Ex 15:1 (NIV)2 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. Ex 15:2 (NIV) David did:1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. Psalms 9:1-2 (NIV) The writer of Hebrews did:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise–the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Heb 13:15-16 (NIV) “Rejoice always, said the Apostle Paul – and again I say rejoice. Let your stability be apparent to all, for truly, the coming of the Lord is near. Prepare yourselves, and be strong; for it is the Lord who upholds you and He it is who give you the victory. Sing, my children, and let the shout of praise be heard: For the Lord is mighty, and His Name is glorious.” Frances J. Roberts What I glean from this:
- God is worthy of my praise and thanksgiving.
- God is right and just in all of His ways.
- Everything belongs to God.
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