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“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” Psalm 100:4-5 (KJV).
Be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. But why should we be thankful unto God and bless his name? The Bible text above gives us three clear reasons why we should be thankful unto Him and bless His name:
Because the Lord is good:
We should be thankful to God first and foremost because He is good. God’s goodness cannot be compared to that of men. Goodness is God’s nature, the sort of goodness that cannot be affected by times, seasons, and circumstances. We see a reflection of God’s goodness in the way He treats those whose actions do not deserve His goodness. For example, the bible tells us in Romans 5:8 that ‘But God clearly shows and proves His love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us’. Jesus also emphasized the good nature of God while speaking in Mathew 5:44-45 when He said ‘But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike’.
We see a reflection of God’s goodness in the way He treats those whose actions do not deserve His goodness.
This is the first reason why you and I should always be thankful to God and bless his name. Because of His goodness which allows us to enjoy so much from God even when we are so undeserving. Imagine if you and I had to pay for the air we breathe or the gift of life.
Because His mercy is everlasting:
Another reason why we should be thankful to God is because His mercy is everlasting. Hallelujah! God’s mercy is not a finite commodity that can be exhausted by our imperfections. Psalm 86:5 describes Him as being plenteous in mercy “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee”. Similarly, Psalm 103:8 says “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy”. Indeed, we serve a God who is plenteous in mercy and His mercy is everlasting. It is of His mercies that you and I are not consumed (Lamentations 3:22-23).
In addition, a careful study of the 136th chapter of the book of Psalms cannot but move us to a point where the natural posture of our heart becomes that of thanksgiving to God for His mercy that is everlasting.
Because His truth endureth to all generations:
From our text above, the third reason why we should be thankful unto God is because of His truth that endures for all generations. God’s truth is not relative to the times nor is it subject to our realities. God’s Word is the truth (John 17:17) and His word is forever settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89). In a world where nothing seems to be cast in stone anymore, a world where people seem to think that they are at liberty to decide what should be true and the phrase alternative facts have come to stay, we need to give God thanks continually for His truth that endures to all generations.
In a world where nothing seems to be cast in stone anymore, a world where people seem to think that they are at liberty to decide what should be true and the phrase alternative facts have come to stay, we need to give God thanks continually for His truth that endures to all generations.
In fact, the immutable nature of God’s Word ensures that whatever we build on it will stand the test of time. Mathew 7:24-25 validates this truth, it says “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock”.
Finally, we must remember that beyond the reasons listed above, we have so many more reasons why we should always be thankful to God. It is neither by our power nor our might that we are alive to see this last part of the year 2022, its simply by the grace and mercy of God, so let us maintain an attitude of gratitude as we navigate the remaining days and weeks of this year, be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
See you at the finish line by God’s grace.