We're not very good at saying "Thank you," are we? We're like a little boy I heard about. On his return from a birthday party, his mother queried, "Bobby, did you thank the lady for the party?" "Well, I was going to. But a girl ahead of me said, "Thank you," and the lady told her not to mention it. So I didn't." We live in a very thankless society! Our life slogan is "we want a break today" or "no rules just right!" Our worship is even the same way. We come to church to see what we can get out of it rather than what we can give to God. The Bible is filled with passages directed at the believer giving thanks to God.
"Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name" (Ps.30:4).
"I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people" (Ps.35:18).
"It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night" (Ps.92:1-2).
The English word thanks occurs 75 times in the Bible while the word thanksgiving occurs 31 times. The Hebrew word for thanksgiving is towdah and it means "an extension of the hand by implying adoration specifically by a choir of worshippers." The word for thanks (Heb. yadah) means "to revere or worship with extended hands."
This should be the offering and sacrifice that we are to give to God. It should continually come from our lips but not just our lips but our heart also and be seen in our attitude. Do you have a heart of thanksgiving? Are you extending your hands towards heaven to reverence and worship to the Lord Jesus Christ? Worship Him today. Do that with a heart of thanksgiving.
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