Blessings Beyond Words

Scripture Reading: Psalm 100



The more I grow as a Christian the more I realize that the words, "Thank You," are such weak ones to deliver to our Provider. This doesn't mean we stop giving thanks, but it seems God deserves so much more, some greater memorial of praise to Him. Some discourse of deeper and greater expressions of our gratitude that goes far beyond "thank you." Unfortunately, many times this mortal tongue is bound by its known vocabulary. However, we see that the offerings of our thanksgivings are far greater than the words we say when it genuinely comes from a heart that showcases true gratefulness and joy to God. The illustration here at the left is one I never have seen before of the Pilgrim's First Thanksgiving. But the image on the man's face (standing in prayer) so reads well his heart that should be the outpouring of our heart to God. There is many faces to be studied in this painting. Each face typifies an attitude common to mankind. There is one face though that is either curious or disturbing. Notice the man at the end of the table to the right. While everyone else bows in prayer, the man here is looking away. I haven't figured out if he is not having anything to do with the thanks offered to God, or, if he is curious to know what makes these other people give thanks like they are. Either way, it shows that some folks aren't acquainted with our God as we believers are.

Believer's have so much to be thankful for. This should be noted in three areas of the Psalm reading for today. I trust you are clicking on the link or opening your Bible to read these. Psalm 100 is the second Psalm I learned in Christian grade school. The verses have stuck with me ever since. The declarative statements in the latter part of this Psalm contain blessings that are ours and that no one can take away. Note these three areas that Christians ought to be extremely thankful beyond words for.

For the Lord is good. This may sound like something we have known and have a firm grasp on since Sunday School days. Its obvious, its review, its...........the key doctrine the Devil attacks when beating down the Christian's heart. When I reread this passage I sort of liken this last part of the Psalm to perhaps a father on his deathbed giving the last pearls of knowledge and wisdom he can impart to his children before he goes to meet God. These three elements are essential in his mind for the road left to trod by his offspring. THE LORD IS GOOD. We should be thankful that the God we serve has a heart of goodness towards us. God could have chosen to afflict us every day with torment and that for no purpose. He could have never made any room in His heart for you and me. God was under no obligation to send His only Son to die for us. God did not have to provide your turkey in the oven either. The blessings of God are manifold and countless. It is difficult though to see this when our lives are given so many months left to live by a doctor, or when your "secure" employment just got its termination notice, or when your child totally abandons the precepts and principles of God's Word for some other desire. None of these things are light things. They are real and they happen. But the Lord is good. Though God blesses us immensely, the complete expression of this thought will completely be understood in glory. When we finally see all that He has prepared for us and all that He kept us from in this world, then we shall fully know the meaning and find a greater voice of uttering our thanksgiving.

Secondly, His Mercy Is Everlasting. This would take longer to articulate in words than you have time to read or I have the description to write. A verse I am constantly reminded of is Lamentations 3:22, "It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not." I often wonder how close I have come to being vaporized by God's Holiness in light of my sin. Thanks be to God that the precious blood of Jesus stands in our behalf, not as a license to continue in sin, but a payment for that sin that should condemn us. If we really grasped how black stained sinner's we are then our lips would never cease to thank and praise Him for His unfailing mercy. The mercy of kings and people have shown that there is a condition or a very thin limit to their "mercy" towards an offender. The thing that makes God's mercy so far more powerful and different than that offered by a man is unfailing, unsearchable love. Unredeemed man forgives in obligation to a standard or law. Christ has no sense of obligation, but a love that tears His heart to see us chained and condemned in sin. Friends the gulf between obligation and love are wider than the span of the universe itself. You and I are loved and therefore have His mercy. That is certainly worth all our thanks and praise, as feebly as this old tongue can say.

Lastly, His Truth Endures to All Generations. Again, I can't describe the perimeters of this fact. The key word is "endures." The truth of man lasts only as long as it suits man. Human truthfulness is in a constant state of change. Things that were once true are now replaced. Nothing in this world is fixed or stable. Suppose God emulated man in this point. One minute saved by grace, the next minute grace really wasn't enough! Can you imagine the total despair we would all be in! His Truth not only endures, but endures to ALL generations. Every people of every decade since time began have the same promise that God doesn't change. What He promises to one people of His love, salvation, grace, etc. He grants to all people. God is not in the business of playing favorites. It is true that He has chosen Israel for His own, but the offer of salvation is made manifest to both Jew and Gentile. There will be no segregation in Heaven. The same Lord is rich unto all who call on Him (Rom. 10:12). Imagine a society where the standards are righteous and nothing can corrupt them. No dependence on a political party, empty promises, failing motives, etc. This describes the effect of God's Truth. God's Truth totally enacted in the Millennial Kingdom, of which we as believers will all enjoy.

In conclusion, we haven't spent much time talking about the traditional thanksgiving list of blessings, like family around us, good food, warm homes, etc. All of this is most worthy of thanksgiving to God. But consider this. If the three points of this Psalm were absent from God's character, we would have little to celebrate. In deed all that we have in this life and in the life to come all hangs on these three points. If God were not good, we would live in mortal torment and be subject to divine affliction every day. If God were not merciful, we would all be in Hell right now. If God's truth was not everlasting our world and very lives would be in more chaos than we could imagine.

Ponder a moment in your heart the meaning of this Psalm in your life. As you sit down at the dinner table this week, look around and see the evidence of Psalm 100 all around you. We know that God desires true gratitude and thankfulness of the heart. Lip service alone He does not desire. Remember the older man in the picture. See his face, study his pose. Incorporate that in your heart of thankfulness. Words need to be spoken, but the outpouring of your heart is what God delights in. Read the Psalm at your table this Thanksgiving. Express your heart from it to your table guests and families. Show Christ's love for you in a tangible way. Blessings beyond words are ours everyday.

Heavenly Father, Provider of all the good things we have. Our words are so feeble compared to the magnitude of your blessings. All we have is by Your hand and we're so grateful. Help us to expound that gratitude in our hearts. May Your Name be praised for all Your works towards us. Help us not to be complacent in thanking You. Forgive our offenses, heal our hurts, and nurture us with Your peace. May we show it towards others as You have shown it to us. We praise Your Name High King of Heaven, Provider, Savior, and so wonderfully our Friend. Amen.

Of Pilgrims and Progress

Scripture Reading: Philippians 3:9-15

Last week we talked about John Bunyan's allegory, Pilgrim's Progress. This title is one that well defines its story content. There is a new movie about the book which is recommended you see. However, in a more general sense let's talk about what it means to be a Pilgrim and what progress are we making.

In Bunyan's story, the Pilgrim was a traveler in search of Heaven. An image of a Pilgrim in our society is one that we see in paintings like the one above by George Boughton depicting Elizabethan clothed travelers in search of religious freedom. Some cultures also use the idea of pilgrims. Islam has its traveler's on a pilgrimage to their sacred places and shrines, as do the Hindu's their places, and even the Jews have pilgrimFWAs to Jerusalem, and even in "Christendom" the Roman Catholics have pilgrimages to Grottoes and the Holy Land. So with all these images, what really is a Pilgrim? Is it someone who we think of at Thanksgiving who wears buckles on his shoes and drags a dead turkey home to dinner? Or could it be someone who is devoted to someone or something in search of inward spiritual desire?

In the most real sense, the latter is true. A Pilgrim is one who follows to find. Following what or whom is the big question. A true Pilgrim, or better said, a correct Pilgrim is one who follows and searches Jesus Christ. A person who is saved by Christ no longer needs to look for Christ as if they cannot find Him, rather now a Pilgrim is on the trail of knowing and becoming more like Christ. We have the seal of Christ upon us and everyday we are heading towards an eternity with Him, so while in the way we are to desire to take on His heart and character.

The Pilgrims of the Mayflower are prime examples of their own name. The whole reason for their coming to America was not primarily for new lands or new adventures. In fact if the truth were told of most of them wished not to leave their homes and families. They had already fled to Holland and now on the trail to the New World for one purpose, to seek a place where God and God alone can be pursued and worshipped freely. Thus by doing, they laid the foundation of immense blessing that germinated into the freedom Americans have yet today of the same ideal. Pursuing the knowledge and worship of God was their key focus.

Another key point to being a Pilgrim is again found in our Mayflower ancestors. This point is that to truly follow Christ then we must be willing to weather the elements of life and not be discouraged to the point of turning back. It is said that the majority of the time spent on the crowded wooden vessel was vexed with disease and harsh conditions. In fact, once the Pilgrims made it to the shores of Massachusetts, they nearly all died in the fierce northern winter that soon fell on them. Yet in all of this they pursued on. Jesus said that good seed sown in the ground will take root and grow despite the difficulties. Jesus likens poor seed as that which springs up and appears to grow a little while but burns up when difficulty comes (Matt. 13:3-8}. Nobody likes to suffer. Sometimes, not always, growth cannot be achieved without suffering to some extent. Suffering doesn't always con notate persecution, but it will include being made uncomfortable. Notice that these harsh elements are not to thrash us into total hopeless despair, but rather so that we will draw closer to God. The Pilgrims certainly drew closer to God as they realized they just landed into a place where there wasn't all the help of their countrymen (in their former country) they were used to leaning on. Such is the case with us. We need to see God as our Supreme Benefactor of all we have or all we hope to have.

Now moving on from what a Pilgrim is, what about his or her progress through life? By this I mean their growth chart for Christ. A Pilgrim ought to be showing signs of growth and should keep track of it. Not to have bragging rights to our fellow man or to God, but as a foundation. No doubt you have seen or remember the markings on the wall of the kitchen where the parent would measure the growth of a child. The same scale of markings are what we should define as the Progress of the saints, or, the Pilgrim. The progress is evidenced in our daily walk with Christ. Are we devoted to reading and studying His Word? Do we spend quality time in prayer? Do we show others the change Christ makes?

Part of this measuring of progress is found in our desire to know more about Christ. Like a muscle that gets more strong and more strong with repeated exercise, so should our desire to know Christ needs to be. We cannot make progress if we are stuck in neutral and complacency. Just as refusing to row a boat gets the occupant nowhere, so complacency stunts or completely hinders growth.

Another area of measurable Progress is our physical service to Christ. It is most important to pray, and absolutely essential to read the Word of God, but we must begin to serve Him in ways beyond our inner man. We have to engage the outer man to service. This is hard. The outer man can get tired and wearied. But beginning to exercise the outer man by joining an outreach group, or helping prepare meals for shut ins, or driving someone to the doctor, or providing financial help for brethren in need are just some of the way we measure our Progress in the Lord. When we look back on say the last year of our life for whatever point today, we should hopefully be amazed at what God has done. What once spiritually was not true in your life last year, is now abundant this year. Being careful though not to forget to Whom the service is to glorify.

There is an old hymn called "Higher Ground." Some of the lyrics explain this progress of growth best. One verse says, "I'm pressing on the Upward Way, new heights I am gaining everyday, still praying as I'm onward bound, Lord plant my feet on Higher Ground." Make it a daily prayer request for you to grow in the Lord. When we plant corn we expect to see a crop, God desires no less from His investment in us.

How are we doing as Pilgrims? Are you a Pilgrim on the trail of knowing Christ better each day? If you have got off the path, ask Christ for a fresh glimpse of Him in your life. If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, then I urge you not to be deceived to think you have plenty of time to do that. You need to trust Him now, while the Spirit is sill tugging. For the Christian, we are to keep focusing our desires and attention on Christ. Let's do that with a joyous new spirit!

One final note. Sometimes being a Pilgrim con notates being a weary traveler with no home or future. Some think of pilgrims in the sense of vagrancy. But friends and brethren, the Bible says we have a Home most assuredly, and we as followers of Christ are on the right road that ends in Glory! (John 14)

Kind Father, help us to be on the trail in search of Your will in us. Help us to appreciate and emulate the spirit of our forefathers who left all to freely worship You. Help us to not only look towards You and for Your return, but tell others how they may be on the same pilgrimage for Heaven as we. Help our progress to be pleasing to You. May it be that we shall we grow taller and stronger for you each day. Guide us with Your Hand, and let us never cease to praise You for the bounty of provision we have as we enter this season of Thanksgiving. In Your Name. Amen.

The Plentiful Harvest

Well its October! My favorite month of the year, mainly because it spells the end of summer, which because of the heat I greatly detest. Not just the changing seasons, the color of leaves, the cooler temperatures, the holidays forthcoming, etc. say as much as does the time of Harvest. God intended when He created the seasons for there to be a time of sowing and working, and then a time of reaping, or enjoying the product of your labors. Such time is called Harvest. The photo here was taken from a local farm produce market out a little ways from our church. There must have been thousands of pumpkins, mums, corn fodder bundles, you name it. As I was staring at the bounty of all these goods I am reminded that we here in America are living in the land of Plentiful Harvest.

If only the Pilgrims could see far into the future all of what God allowed and afforded us today! I wonder if they would be amazed and/or non-chalant about all this we have. I say this because though I believe they would be amazed, yet they knew when they survived the first hard winter in Massachusetts, that God was in control and there was no limit to what He can do and what He can bless a people with. Let's address three areas of "Pre-Thanksgiving" items in the areas of Harvest.

First, of course there is an earthly harvest. Praise God that He knows we cannot live on just bread alone, we need the Word of God, however He knows we need the bread too.

God sees fit to bless us here in America with more food and vegetables than we can take in. I believe this is all the result of our foundations upon honoring God at the inception of our country. Of course now we see our country's moral and spiritual state in a ragged unrepairable condition. Yet in all this we still reap the goodness of God. The Psalmist David said that he had never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging for food. How good it is to know that God will provide our daily needs and also those things we desire that aligns with His best for us.

Secondly, there is an inward bodily Harvest. Do you stop and take time to thank Him for every little detail in life? We should. That would take hours you may think. You would be right, but certainly He is worthy of it. Everything we have, own, eat, work at, accomplish, are rewarded for, everything right down to the air we breathe and the lungs to breathe it with is from God's hand. Know this, no matter what your view of God is (hopefully its positive) He is good to you because you are living and breathing, this is a privilege from Him so taken for granted today. We should take the time to thank Him for the growth of our bodies and strength of our muscles to dust the house, mow the lawn, vacuum the house, drive the car, type on the computer, cook the meals, make the beds, work at whatever you do. Our bodily harvest is the product of our hands work. Whenever you complete a project, that is your harvest. Our minds and intellect as well as our physical members all combined to reap that which you have worked at. This may be as simple as typing a report, or it could be as large as building a house, but all in all it is the harvest of reaping what God has allowed you to do by your labors.

Then there is most certainly a Spiritual Harvest. There is so much that can be said here. We harvest this type all the time. There are essentially two Spiritual Harvests. The most recognized are our daily triumphs, victories and of course, "fruit" that we see of our personal growth and the effects it has on others around you to whom you minister. The other Harvest is the one great day of reward as spoken of in Matthew 16:27. The question arises here, will there be a Harvest in you Spiritually? Are you planting a Spiritual Crop that will be harvested. So many believers all over the world are satisfied to be saved and then not produce any works to evidence such a salvation. This is dangerous for many points but certainly none other than the fact that Jesus said in Matthew 7:17-20 that by your fruits people will know whether or not you are indeed Redeemed. So how do we prepare for a bountiful Spiritual Harvest both now and in the future? Here are some ways.

• Read Your Bible---of the paramount importance is the act so simple. You cannot grow in God if you know nothing about Him as revealed to you in His Word


• Seek God in Prayer--how shall we relate to God our thoughts and needs as well as hear from Him if we do not talk to Him on a daily basis?


• Seek ways to share your Faith in Christ--The Gospel hid is worthless to those who need to hear it if we keep it shut up and never share it.


• Sacrifice your time to help the body of Christ--Christ gave totally of Himself, so He also desires that we do our part, sharing what we have, to nourish and encourage one another for His Glory.


• Give your resources for His use--this is different than giving time, but literally your money or possessions to help further God's work and provide for the real needs of His people.


• Make the most of your gifts in service to God--each of us has talents and abilities that others do not have. We do this not to puff ourselves up, but show the world there is something different in you and that is Christ. Put to use these talents to further the Gospel and thereby reach out to others in tangible ways


• Don't forsake the assembly of yourselves in the Church--you show that you love God by readily anticipating the day of meeting and worship to Him.

This is a small list of what can be done. No matter though the list of suggestions you read, you must understand we do not labor solely for our own reward...we do it for the furtherance of Christ's Kingdom and His Glory. However, God is not unjust to reward labor done for Him. We understand that we shall be rewarded but its not our most important goal.

The Harvest of the Spirit will not be fully realized until we get to Heaven. However, in this world we have the joy of seeing souls redeemed by God through our witness. We see needs met, hearts encouraged, families strengthened, missionaries sent, praises uttered, and hope conquering despair. These are but a shadow of the reward that awaits. If we do not sow these now, we shall not have anything to offer Christ from our Harvest and He will have nothing to reward us with in return.

Harvest time is a time of plenty. As we see the Earth settle in its time of reaping, take time to review how thankful we need to be in our own reaping of the creation, the body, and the spirit. If you have not spent much time in God's Harvest fields (as we all could spend more) then refocus your priorities to include the Lord's work, as His Work so wondrously included you.

Father in Heaven, Giver of all that is good from Your Hand. Help us to be more thankful at the reaping of the Harvest you have for us. Thank you that you're not a tyrant who cares nothing for those under You, but you sacrificed Your own Son for our sakes. We are the one's undeserving, help us to remember this and in gratitude serve You and help others to not only come to You as Lord and Savior, but to help reap a bountiful harvest in the fields of life. One day this world for each of us will end, work will be no longer done, help us Father to serve faithfully so one day we may reap bountifully. Thank you Father. In your Holy Name. Amen.