Bible League: Living His Word Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. — Psalm 100:4—5 ESV Scientists and psychologists of the previous century have studied and recognized that gratitude is a positive attribute of life, generally improving one's sense of well—being and cultivating generosity in many ways throughout society. Research in the last two decades of the 21st century has both verified and clarified this idea. A study just two years ago by the Mayo Clinic confirmed that behavior changes biology. Evidently, the expression of gratitude more rapidly dispenses the hormone oxytocin from the posterior pituitary gland (a hormone more generally related to both male and female reproductive functions). Scientists are finding expanded considerations of the hormone in the improvement of the immune system, of sleep, and of mood in cultivating relationships with other people. The summary article concluded that those who determine to express thanksgiving benefit from very positive results. God, of course, knew of this from the beginning! Throughout Scripture, God reminds His people to be thankful and to express thanksgiving close to 140 times. In our verses for today, through the psalmist, He reminds those who would go through the eight gates of the temple court to begin to set their mind on gratitude. Even while they were walking into the courtyard, they were to begin giving thanks for all the goodness of the Lord. Then, as they entered in, they would be prepared to bless His name; and if they needed any ideas as to what to offer as a blessing, they could remember the constancy and endurance of God's love and faithfulness upon His people throughout all time! Obviously, what was true for God's people of an earlier era is true for His people today. Begin expressing thanks for the very goodness of the Lord in your life and discover your ability to give praise more readily to God who loves you and desires to draw you closer to Himself. Glenn Sunshine of the Colson Center recently reviewed the history of the German Lutheran pastor Martin Rinkart (1586—1649) who served in the region of Ellenburg during the outbreak of the Thirty Years War, a time of destruction more dire than that of World War 1. As a city of refuge during the war, because of its surrounding wall, it also became a hotbed of disease and death because of the years of plague throughout Europe. Many sick people found their way and lay at the doors of the church, with Rinkart left alone to tend them and bury the dead. In all, he tended to over 4,500 people who would die, including his wife. It is said that there were days he performed up to 50 funerals. Surprisingly, amid such daily difficulties, Rinkart penned prayers and hymns of worship that were full of praise, trust, and constant thanksgiving for God's goodness to him. One such table prayer we know well, for it is found in every hymnal of every denomination since its writing: "Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices. Who wondrous things hath done, in whom His world rejoices. Who from our mother's arms hath blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today." Rinkart joins the chorus of many others both in the Scripture and throughout the history of the church who found joy in their faith by learning to express deep gratitude to God who loves, protects, and provides for His children throughout the ages. May we continue this habit of the heart throughout this season of thanksgiving. By Bill Niblette, Ph.D., Bible League International staff, Pennsylvania U.S. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJeremiah 46, 47, 48 Jeremiah 46 -- Jeremiah Prophesies the Overthrow of Pharaoh's Army at Euphrates NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 47 -- Prophecy against the Philistines NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 48 -- Prophecy against Moab NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Hebrews 4 Hebrews 4 -- The Sabbath-Rest; Jesus the Great High Priest NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion So don't let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.Insight Paul told the Colossian Christians not to let others criticize their diet or their religious ceremonies. Instead of outward observance, believers should focus on faith in Christ alone. Our worship, traditions, and ceremonies can help bring us close to God, but we should never criticize fellow Christians whose traditions and ceremonies differ from ours. More important than how we worship is that we worship Christ. Challenge Don't let anyone judge you. You are responsible to Christ. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Acts 1:8 And ye shall be witnesses unto me.In order to learn how to discharge your duty as a witness for Christ, look at his example. He is always witnessing: by the well of Samaria, or in the Temple of Jerusalem: by the lake of Gennesaret, or on the mountain's brow. He is witnessing night and day; his mighty prayers are as vocal to God as his daily services. He witnesses under all circumstances; Scribes and Pharisees cannot shut his mouth; even before Pilate he witnesses a good confession. He witnesses so clearly, and distinctly that there is no mistake in him. Christian, make your life a clear testimony. Be you as the brook wherein you may see every stone at the bottom--not as the muddy creek, of which you only see the surface--but clear and transparent, so that your heart's love to God and man may be visible to all. You need not say, "I am true:" be true. Boast not of integrity, but be upright. So shall your testimony be such that men cannot help seeing it. Never, for fear of feeble man, restrain your witness. Your lips have been warmed with a coal from off the altar; let them speak as like heaven-touched lips should do. "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand." Watch not the clouds, consult not the wind--in season and out of season witness for the Saviour, and if it shall come to pass that for Christ's sake and the gospel's you shall endure suffering in any shape, shrink not, but rejoice in the honor thus conferred upon you, that you are counted worthy to suffer with your Lord; and joy also in this--that your sufferings, your losses, and persecutions shall make you a platform, from which the more vigorously and with greater power you shall witness for Christ Jesus. Study your great Exemplar, and be filled with his Spirit. Remember that you need much teaching, much upholding, much grace, and much humility, if your witnessing is to be to your Master's glory. Daily Light on the Daily Path James 5:11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.Romans 5:3-5 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; • and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; • and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Hebrews 12:11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. James 1:2,4,12 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, • And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. • Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. • Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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