Shout for joy to the lord, all the earth.
Worship the lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
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.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Character Check When was the last time you publicly gave thanks to God?
In Business Terms Biblical thanksgiving requires more than saying “thank you”
Most of the Old Testament was written in the Hebrew language. The Hebrew term yadah is often translated “give thanks” or “thanksgiving,” but it actually means “to give public acknowledgment.” If your friend, Bob, mows you’re lawn while you’re away, the American way to express thanksgiving is to go directly to Bob and say thank you. However, biblical thanksgiving goes public. It requires you to tell the community of worshipers about Bob’s act of kindness.
Suppose God opens up the right house for you to purchase. Offers on two previous houses were rejected, but your offer on this latest house is accepted. You feel gratitude. This house will work out better than the first two at which you looked. It’s in a better school district, and your payments will be lower. How should you respond to God as a worshiper? Certainly, it is appropriate to pray and thank God for providing the house. But you have not accomplished biblical thanksgiving until you go public. That requires telling other worshipers in a public setting how God provided for you. Biblical thanksgiving does not settle for anything less.
—Steve Mathewson
Something to Think About Just the word thanksgiving prompts the spirit of humility. Genuine gratitude to God for His mercy, His abundance, His protection, His smile of favor. Life simplifies itself. – Charles Swindoll
