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Six Chief Parts

Issue 75

GIVE THANKS…If you have a good reason to do so. Do you?

I know that you know that you are supposed to say, “Yes.” What a boring topic for our 75th edition of the “6 Chief Parts”, right? Yes, we are supposed to give thanks. Yes, we are supposed to be thankful. We know this. There is nothing new to learn here.

Why then do I bring it up? Because the practice of giving thanks to God publicly seems to be sorely lacking among us. Why? You have a good reason. The Psalmist says, “I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness” (Ps. 7:17). Thanks is due. God is good and gracious. He has shown us grace and mercy to a degree that baffles the mind. Thanks is due his name.

In fact, Ps. 86:12 explains that the graciousness of God is so great that there is room for little more than anything but thanksgiving in our hearts. The Psalmist invites us to join in his song and his prayer saying, “I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.”

But, we have so many other important things to do. We can’t simply spend all of our time giving thanks. That wouldn’t be very practical, would it? What about the business of the Church? Brothers and sisters in Christ, have you really ever noticed God encouraging us to embrace the pragmatics of this world? Do you really think that a few extra moments of thanksgiving are going to be bad for you or your family or this congregation?

No, in Psalm 92 we read that “It is good to give thanks to the LORD…” It is good for us. It is beneficial…not unimportant, not an extra-if-we-have-time-sort-of-thing. It is good to give thanks to the LORD. Good. Beneficial. A blessed activity. It is certainly an improvement over the worrying, arguing, and complaining that so often describes us.

Can you imagine anything better than a congregation that is busy, together, giving thanks to God for all of His gifts to us. Can you imagine what a joy it would be to be part of a congregation that was extravagant in their thankfulness for each other, for the Word of God, for the blessing of the forgiveness of sins, for the daily bread that God provides, and so on? Wouldn’t it be great to go to a board or council meeting that went too long because its members just couldn’t stop thanking God! Doesn’t that sound wonderful?

I would invite you, with me, to take some time thinking about where you could substitute some of your worries and complaints with thanksgiving. I would also encourage you to open up the Scriptures in your homes and join us in the study of God’s Word. It will be much easier for you to see what God is doing in your life, if you are taking the time to hear him speak to you through His Word.

“It is good to give thanks to the LORD,

to sing praises to your name, O Most High;

to declare your steadfast love in the morning,

and your faithfulness by night

to the music of the lute and the harp,

to the melody of the lyre.”

Psalm 92:1-3

Sermon for the Ninth Sunday after Trinity

Today's Readings: 2 Samuel 22:26–34, 1 Corinthians 10:6–13, Luke 16:1–9

The Introit is: Psalm 54:1–3, 7; antiphon: Psalm 54:4–5

The Collect of the Day: Let Your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of Your humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever

The daily readings for this week: August 14: 2 Sam. 1:1–27; 1 Cor. 7:25–40; 15: 2 Sam. 5:1–25; 1 Cor. 8:1–13; 16: 2 Sam. 6:1–19; 1 Cor. 9:1–23; 17: 2 Sam. 7:1–17; 1 Cor. 9:24–10:22; 18: 2 Sam. 7:18–29; 1 Cor. 10:23–11:16; 19: 2 Sam. 11:1–27; 1 Cor. 11:17–34; 20: 2 Sam. 12:1–25; 1 Cor. 12:1–13