Grateful!

Grateful!

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! 1 Chronicles 16:34 AMPC

The Inspiration:

David was called a man after God's heart, and as you read the words of the entire chapter from which today's verse is taken. He recalled the story of the people of Israell, and how God had taken them from captivity in Egypt into a land flowing with milk and honey. If I will also enjoy the same dispensation of grace and favour that David enjoyed, I have to have the same heart that David had. Even when mistakes were made about how to handle the ark of the Lord, David would not stop praising God. Even when God punished David for carrying out a census, just to glory in ordinary numbers, David would still prefer to fall into the hands of the merciful God. David lived in a lovely palace, but he also wanted to build a befitting place for the ark of the covenant to rest. Even though God would not allow David build a temple, He allowed him to make provisions for the temple, and then God blessed David abundantly. He got a pernament dynasty from God, simply because he knew God's heart. 

The Contention:

Can the same thing be said of me? Do I love God with the same passion and commitment of David? I must always remember that this is a God who cannot be mocked or deceived, and He knows all about my heart. He knew when I am being sincere and when I am being a hypocrite. I could not pay him enough for all He has done for or given me. I could never offer Him enough to full pay for the life that He gave so I could have eternal life. What else could anyone give, after giving His life? What else could convince me about the love of a God whose best is free for me, without cost and without price? It is not a wonder that David is known for songs of praise. It was his constant expression of gratitude for all he had received. As I read these words, I have to also answer the question: "How would I show appreciation to God for all He has given me?" This is a question that is valid for all time. How do you plead? 

The Conclusion:

David asks us to give thanks to the Lord, and he lays out the reasons why. Time and space wil not permit us to consider all, but the simple fact that God is good is enough. It does not matter what the world deals you; it does not change the fact that God is good. All of us stand today simply because of His mercy and loving-kindness. Sin changed the landscape for man, but it does not change who God is. In fact, the more sin, the more grace abounded. Nothing in all of life can hinder the grace and mercy of God, unless I consciously and deliberately reject them all the way to the end of my earthly life. The past does not matter; grace has an answer for the mess. The present is just but preparation for the future. No wonder God is described as eternal; everyone who comes to Him enjoys the dispensation of life. All I need to do is trust and depend on Him. He will sort out my earthly impact and eternal relevance. God's time of favour is here.