Psalm 44:14 NKJV - "Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High."
Commentary:
What kind of "offering" do you think God is really pleased with? Money? An "hour" on Sunday mornings? A willingness to come and spend a morning at a "work day" at your local church?
How about a word of thanks? How about keeping the promises you made to the Lord some years ago? Think He forgot? Think He "knows you're thankful in your heart" and you don't need to say anything in public?
In Psalm 44 the Lord makes clear He doesn't need all the sacrifices we most associate with the Jewish worship: the animals slaughtered; the grain and oil given; the "first-fruits" of the harvest. God basically says He doesn't take delight in those things as much as He delights in our being thankful, in public, and our keeping the promises we made Him.
God loves appreciation. He knows its a step of spiritual growth and maturity when a believer speaks of his/her gratefulness in the congregation. God knows He is honored by our thanksgiving and He knows when other people hear what we have to say they are all the more prone to offer their own words of praise.
Ever "promise" the Lord you would read His Word every day and spend time in prayer just as often? Have you been slack keeping your vows? No, you can't necessarily make up for lost time, but you can start NOW to fulfill your promises. He honors that, you know. He's pleased to hear a word of praise and He watches us get back to doing what we said we would do.
A simple step for you to take would be to offer a word of thanks to the Lord the next time the pastor calls for a word of praise from anyone. It will bless your heart, encourage other believers to do the same, and, most of all, honor your Savior.
Commentary:
What kind of "offering" do you think God is really pleased with? Money? An "hour" on Sunday mornings? A willingness to come and spend a morning at a "work day" at your local church?
How about a word of thanks? How about keeping the promises you made to the Lord some years ago? Think He forgot? Think He "knows you're thankful in your heart" and you don't need to say anything in public?
In Psalm 44 the Lord makes clear He doesn't need all the sacrifices we most associate with the Jewish worship: the animals slaughtered; the grain and oil given; the "first-fruits" of the harvest. God basically says He doesn't take delight in those things as much as He delights in our being thankful, in public, and our keeping the promises we made Him.
God loves appreciation. He knows its a step of spiritual growth and maturity when a believer speaks of his/her gratefulness in the congregation. God knows He is honored by our thanksgiving and He knows when other people hear what we have to say they are all the more prone to offer their own words of praise.
Ever "promise" the Lord you would read His Word every day and spend time in prayer just as often? Have you been slack keeping your vows? No, you can't necessarily make up for lost time, but you can start NOW to fulfill your promises. He honors that, you know. He's pleased to hear a word of praise and He watches us get back to doing what we said we would do.
A simple step for you to take would be to offer a word of thanks to the Lord the next time the pastor calls for a word of praise from anyone. It will bless your heart, encourage other believers to do the same, and, most of all, honor your Savior.
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