DCLM Higher Everyday 11 February 2023 — Giving thanks to God
DCLM Higher Everyday 11 February 2023 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Giving thanks to God
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TOPIC: GIVING THANKS TO GOD
TEXT: EPHESIANS 5:19-21.
20Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
MEMORY VERSE: “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ” (EPHESIANS 5:20).
MESSAGE:
In the words of Dick Eastman, “Basically, thanksgiving is an act of expressing specific gratitude to God for blessings He has bestowed upon us. These expressions may be mental or vocal.” Our thanksgiving must be sincere, for God sees through our actions and intentions. The Bible thus declares, “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me…” (Isaiah 29:13). God promised to punish the hypocrites. However, one thing is clear, sincere thanksgiving by a nation, family or an individual, pleases God.
In our Bible text, believers are encouraged to speak to one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs. There should be a habit of ‘singing and making melody in their heart to the Lord.’ Believers express gratitude for all things divinely received (1 Samuel 2:1, 2). Being thankful pleases God. As we thank Him, either in a joint congregational worship, or during personal devotion, we must do it with an understanding of His majesty. Thank Him reverentially.
QUOTE: Thank Him reverentially
CHALLENGE: Develop the right attitude of thanksgiving.
PRAYER FOR TODAY: Lord, give me a thankful heart.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
