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 Isaiah 49:16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.No doubt a part of the wonder which is concentrated in the word "Behold," is excited by the unbelieving lamentation of the preceding sentence. Zion said, "The Lord hath forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me." How amazed the divine mind seems to be at this wicked unbelief! What can be more astounding than the unfounded doubts and fears of God's favored people? The Lord's loving word of rebuke should make us blush; he cries, "How can I have forgotten thee, when I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands? How darest thou doubt my constant remembrance, when the memorial is set upon my very flesh?" O unbelief, how strange a marvel thou art! We know not which most to wonder at, the faithfulness of God or the unbelief of his people. He keeps his promise a thousand times, and yet the next trial makes us doubt him. He never faileth; he is never a dry well; he is never as a setting sun, a passing meteor, or a melting vapor; and yet we are as continually vexed with anxieties, molested with suspicions, and disturbed with fears, as if our God were the mirage of the desert. "Behold," is a word intended to excite admiration. Here, indeed, we have a theme for marvelling. Heaven and earth may well be astonished that rebels should obtain so great a nearness to the heart of infinite love as to be written upon the palms of his hands. "I have graven thee." It does not say, "Thy name." The name is there, but that is not all: "I have graven thee." See the fulness of this! I have graven thy person, thine image, thy case, thy circumstances, thy sins, thy temptations, thy weaknesses, thy wants, thy works; I have graven thee, everything about thee, all that concerns thee; I have put thee altogether there. Wilt thou ever say again that thy God hath forsaken thee when he has graven thee upon his own palms? Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 107:8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men!Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 31:19 How great is Your goodness, Which You have stored up for those who fear You, Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, Before the sons of men! Isaiah 43:21 "The people whom I formed for Myself Will declare My praise. Ephesians 1:5,6,12 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, • to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. • to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. Zechariah 9:17 For what comeliness and beauty will be theirs! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine the virgins. Psalm 145:9-12 The LORD is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works. • All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD, And Your godly ones shall bless You. • They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom And talk of Your power; • To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts And the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom. 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. 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