Theme: Living a life of sacrifice & service
Topic: Thanksgiving as an act of sacrifice
Main Texts: Psalms 100:1-5
Key verse: Psalm 100:4 “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and praise His name.” (NKJV).
Introduction:
In the Eucharistic prayer, it is stated that “it is right to give [God] thanks and praise” and also “…it is our duty and our joy at all times, and in all places.”. Thanksgiving is an act of expressing gratitude to God for His blessings and deliverance. The Bible speaks of the “sacrifice” of thanksgiving (e.g., Ps 50:23, 116:17). Leviticus 7:11-12 teaches that the sacrifice of thanksgiving was a peace offering. The peace offering represents one””s fellowship upward to God and outward to man. It was primarily given in thanks for God””s blessing. When this offering was made, God, the priest, the offeror, and his family and friends shared in a common meal and fellowship, as all these parties “ate” part of the sacrificed animal. The Old Testament system of sacrifices was rendered obsolete by the cross, but the principle of sacrifice as an act of devotion remains. Believers are called now to be a living sacrifice, to “make thankfulness our sacrifice to God ” (Ps 50:14a), and to ” continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of our lips that openly profess His name” (Heb. 13:15).
Q1. (1a) Read Ps 100:1-2; 24:1 Who is commanded to praise the Lord? In what ways should the Lord be praised? (1b) Read Deut 28:47-48 Why is it important to praise the Lord with gladness? (1c) Read Ps 50:23 (NLT), Ps 116:17 Why do you think thanksgiving is considered a sacrifice?
Paragraph 2:
Thanksgiving is more than a verbal expression of gratitude. True giving requires sacrifice. Sacrifice involves giving something up – something that we value Sacrifice is surrendering something to God as an offering to Him. It’s a ‘thank offering’ that pleases His heart when it’s done from the heart with the right kind of attitude. Thanksgiving, from a Biblical perspective, is more than just a glib, casual, ritualistic mouthing of words before a meal or after a blessing. Without a cost, it’s not really a sacrifice. The Bible tells us to “in everything give thanks”. There are times in our lives when giving thanks hurts – when we are suffering, in hardship, bereaved or watching someone we love suffer. It is in those times that our devotion to the Lord is tested most – when the only acceptable sacrifice is obedience which, in itself, is a form of thanksgiving.
Q2.Read 1 Chron 16:34; Ps 50:23, 92:1,100:3-5,106:1,107:31; Ro 8:28; Col 1:12 (2a) What reasons are stated in these verses for giving thanks to God? (2b) How do these reasons compare with “testimonies” that you have heard recently? (2c) For what do you normally give thanks to God?
Paragraph 3:
In Psalm 50, God pointedly reminds us that He does not need our sacrifices (Ps 50:8-13). The Hebrew system of sacrifice was set up in part to prevent a downward spiral of sin (by causing men to pause, look symbolically at what sin was costing them, repent, and reconcile with God. It was done away with because only Jesus’ death on the cross to finally achieve the objective. Both the Old Testament sacrifices and the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross were for man’s benefit, not God’s. The same is true of the sacrifice of thanksgiving. God doesn’t need our thanksgiving. It is His will for us because it is for our benefit.
Q3.Read Ps 50:23, Phil 4:6; 1 Thes 5:18, Col 4:2-4 (3a) Discuss some of the benefits of thanksgiving evident from these Scriptures (3b) How does the Bible’s perspective on thanksgiving differ from an “attitude of gratitude” (3c) What is your main take-away from today?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that I can have confidence that You care for me. Help me to continually offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and to give thanks in everything which is Your will for me. Amen