Monday, August 6, 2012

Give Thanks and Enter In

There’s a worship song by Henry Smith called Give Thanks. It goes like this,

“Give thanks with a grateful heart. Give thanks to the Holy One. Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son. And now, let the weak say, “I am strong,” let the poor say, “I am rich,” because of what the Lord has done for us. Give thanks.”

Let’s give thanks today for all that the Lord has done for us. Are you weak? You are strong in the Lord (2 Cor 12:10, “For when I am weak, then I am strong” and Phil 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”). Are you poor? You are rich in the Lord (Luke 6:20, "Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God”).

The mystery that God has revealed is Christ in us, the hope of glory. Us in Christ and Christ in God. “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all (Eph 1:22-23).”

Ephesians 1:3, 7, 10, 11, 18, 19; 2:5-6, 19; 3:17, 19:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ…In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace… that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him… In Him also we have obtained an inheritance… the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints… and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power… even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus… Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God… that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love… to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God…

Romans 8:16-18:
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

With such a hope and future, we can rejoice here and now in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in our glorious inheritance in the Lord. May we enter into His rest today. May we be filled with His peace that passes understanding, and the joy of the Lord. Oh, Lord, help me to keep my eyes on you and your plan for me, in this life and the life to come. May I enter into your rest now, Lord, and may I glorify your Son in and through this new life you’ve given me.

Hebrew 4:8-9, 11, 16:
For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God…Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience…Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

James 4:8: Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Phil. 4:4-7:
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Psalm 150: v1 Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven! v2 Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! v4 Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! v6 Let everything that breathes sing praises to the LORD! Praise the LORD!


The poor shall eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the LORD. Let your heart live forever! Ps 22:26

Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. Ps 30:4

He has put a new song in my mouth-- Praise to our God… Ps 40:3

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. Ps 104:33

Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Ps 106:1

Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful. Ps 147:1


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