“What will be the first thing you say to God when you get to heaven?” I remember my pastor asking this thought-provoking question during one his sermons. My inward response was quick. “Thank You.” Such inadequate words, but what else could there be to say?
“Thank You for creating me. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for laying down Your life for me. Thank You for tasting death for me. Thank You for being with me every step of the way. Thank You for giving me a life more wonderful than I could ever deserve. Thank You for answered prayer. Thank You for the privilege of knowing You.”
But I’ve been realizing that we don’t have to wait till heaven to say “Thank You” to the Lord. Our whole lives can be a praise song of thanksgiving to our precious Savior!
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1).
Really, when you think about it—the complete yielding of all that we are and have to the Lord is just the logical response to what He’s given us. All of Himself, without reserve.
We’re moving into one of the most beautiful seasons of the year, when we celebrate the birth of Christ. We remember why He came, to die for us. And with eager anticipation, we remember His promise, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.”
May we not lose the wonder, the thanksgiving. It’s not just for one day a year; it’s not just for the future glory of heaven. It is for every day, in the good or the bad. In the way I choose gratitude or complaining. Whether I treat the people around me with entitlement and self-righteousness, or with an extension of the undeserved love that God has already shown me. How I respond to curveballs life throws at me (even the little daily irritations).
The marvel of Who He is; the miracle of all He’s done—He is so worthy of every song of praise. From my lips and from my life.
My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed (Psalm 71:23).
I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell (Psalm 86:12-13).
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s (1 Cor. 6:20).
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).
What a privilege to live for Him! It’s truly humbling to think that we get to have a personal relationship with Almighty God. He loves and cares for us, pouring out tender mercies, new every morning. How thrilling it is to think of seeing Him face to face! Perhaps at that moment a greater capacity than we can imagine in the finite now will be given us to voice the expression of our adoration to Him. But what a joy if that could just be the climax of a life that sang in steady sweetness—through the hard days and the happy days, through sorrow or joy, through loss or gain—“Thanks to God for my Redeemer!”
Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift (2 Cor. 9:15).
