Number 348 December 1, 2010
BEING THANKFUL IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES
"Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end," Ephesians 3:21b.
We have many thing in which to be thankul! It all truly begins when we learn that man's greatest blessing is that God comes down to help man - to save him and lead him. The Almighty has to condescend to our area of low estate. He cares and "So loved the world" (Jn 3:16).
And, the surprising thing is that a student has to learn is: God is not impressed with numbers. The Lord doesn't care how many people or, how much activity goes on. The only holy setting is when God is there, in Person. Therefore, when we begin to serve, nothing is more important than God taking note of our sinful state and knowing that God loves us; like John 3:16 says. We must stop working and let the Lord move.
Visiting man has always been the case, beginning with Abraham. "...Get thee out of thy country, and from they kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee," Exodus 12:1. What an amazing call! A call that covers all of Abraham's life, his county, kindred, father's house and land. God told Abraham to leave it all and obey His voice.
No wonder the book of Romans 4:3 cites Exodus 15:6, calling Abraham THE FATHER OF FAITH. "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God and it was counted (reckoned) unto him for righteousness."
Our status doesn't matter, either. Whether, God deals with a sojourner or king, His calling is a blessed one. Notice the words David uses to describe God's working. Romans 4:7&8: "Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." Now, the beautiful part is that the blessings of God have come upon Gentiles; as well as, Abraham's Jewish descendant. That means: YOU AND ME, MY BROTHER!!!
ABRAHAM'S FAITH was a faith of unseen things (Heb 11:17-19). It was a faith prior to and independent of the Law (Gal3:17-19). Further, Abraham's faith allowed him to produce the promised seed, Jesus, the Christ. What a blessing to know that the promise is for us. One day we shall inherit the earth. AMEN!
Then we come to the New Covenant! Here, Jesus confirmed, fulfilled and, therefore, ratified the promise made to Abraham. But, we must remember that the calling is no different for us than it was for Abraham. Sionce, the promise is the same, it has to be received by faith. No works are involved. We are justified by faith. In "A commentary," by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Eerdmans, 1982, faith is explained as "the instrument that puts us in possession of the blessing gratuitously bestowed"
Today, according to our Heading Verse above (Gal 3:21), the acceptable place to worship the Lord is within the organized body, the church.The church is the right place to show our thankfulness unto the Lord of heaven. Further, the verse states "...throughout all ages." And, these words mean that we shall be thankful, giving God the glory, forever. Our appreciation shall go on and on; for, all eternity. Where will praise continue? Well, where is it now? In the church, the assembly and the body of God's people.
Reading Paul's epistles, we note that the location of each church is always stated. There's the Church at Corinth, the Church of Ephesians, etc. The church is a LOCAL CONGREGATION composed of saved, baptized believers who gather to worship. And, worship is the first principle of obedience and belief. Worship defines our faith. It matters where we go and what we do when worhsippiing God.
Therefore, after all is said, the right place to show thankfulness to God is Gathering together. Israel always gathered. Thus, gathering or assembling, is the meaning of the church; which is defined as, "A called out assembly," We must meets on Sunday for it's the day that Christ arose from the grave. In the resurrection of Jesus, we understand that the new order had arrived. By His death, Jesus removed the Old and, when He arose, He set the New day of worship. It occurred, concurrently.
Thus today, Jesus is the Head of the church body that He established when He was on earth. For the disciples, He instructed them to "Go, into all the world" (Mt 28:19). While, the church goes, She preaches to everyone in the world during the week. But, on that day - SUNDAY - the Church meets on for worship. She preaches and teaches. It is Sunday that the church shows thankfulness unto the Lord - the only place; that is, the only place on Sunday!
Let us all be thankful everyday. Gathering around the family is the right place to be to show our thankfulness, daily. However, don't forget the Word of the Lord this Sunday. Attending church is the right place of worship.