2021.11.14 - True Thanksgiving is More Than Words

Text: Psalm 100 Opening Statement: Psalm 100 is a psalm of thanksgiving; it is a psalm in which the psalmist gives us reasons to be thankful. And let us notice immediately that the psalmist calls us to be thankful -- it is a command from God that we be thankful. I) “Shout for joy to Yahweh, all you lands.” (Psalm 100:1) Make a joyful noise, the psalmist says. Don’t just whisper or mumble or stir around, afraid you’re going to disturb the person next to you – shout with all your might! Let the whole world know that the sovereign God of all creation is with us, he loves us, he’s on our side. “Shout for joy to Yahweh.” That’s the first action. II) Serve Yahweh with gladness. (Psalm 100:2) So, what does it mean to serve God? First, it means to give what you have as a symbol of your gratitude and devotion. To serve God is to give what you have – your time, talent, gifts and service – with a joyful heart. It’s also to serve others in the name of Jesus Christ. To serve the Lord with gladness is to be a cheerful giver, lending a helping hand to those in need, showing mercy to those who are struggling, practicing random acts of kindness wherever you go – not out of obligation or duty – but out of gratitude for what God has done for you. Serve Yahweh with gladness. That’s the second action. III) “Know that Yahweh is God …” (Psalm 100:3) You may not be aware of this, but there are many different names for God in the Hebrew Bible. This verse uses two of them: Yahweh and Elohim. What the psalmist wants us to know is that the same God who watches over us and cares for us as a loving father or mother would – Yahweh – is none other than the all-powerful God who brought all creation into existence – Elohim. The Lord is God … Yahweh is Elohim. “God is God, and you’re not.” That’s what the psalmist is reminding us, when he says: “Know that Yahweh, he is God. It is he who has made us, and we are his. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:3). Know that Yahweh is God. That’s the third action. (Psalm