It's Our REASONABLE Service!!!!!!

Monday, November 21st, 2011

Today's Passage> Psalm chapter 50
Memory Verse> Psalm 50: 14 & 23

We as parents are peculiar. We're capable of providing for our children, for we love them dearly and would do anything to see them happy. We're also very capable of doing everything that needs to be done in the household, such as cleaning the house, taking out the garbage, and cooking the food for that day. As a matter of fact, we know we're capable of doing this because we performed theses duties before our children got here and when they were too young to help us do it.

But when our babies get old enough, we like for them to begin participating in these duties -- not because we HAVE to depend on them, but because we'd like them to develop a sense of helping as a reasonable service for getting to enjoy the blessings of staying in a home they don't have to pay for, and eat food that's automatically provided for them without fail. And once we assign these duties, we don't like to hear them complain about having to do them because WE don't complain about all the sacrifices WE have to make for them; we just make those sacrifices.

God has this same attitude about the way He wants us to be thankful to Him. He does everything that He knows we need without complaining; He loves to bless us and show Himself faithful to us. So when it comes down to showing Him our gratitude, He expects it to be done without giving off the attitude that it's a chore. It hurts Him that He'd have to MAKE us be grateful to Him when we ought to know it's our REASONABLE service. What do you give a Father like God Who already has everything? Animal sacrifices don't work because everything physical already belongs to Him. You give Him the gift of an attitude of gratitude. It's the only thing He can't make us give Him because it wouldn't make Him happy.

Gratitude is closely linked to total devotion because it lets our Father know we have confidence in His care for us, and that even when we can't see where the provision is coming from or just how He's going to make a way, experience with Him tells us that if He's done it before, He'll surely do it again. While He's out moving this and shaking that to provide for us, the very least we can do is have an expectancy that He's going to come through, and praise Him in advance for what He WILL do. Let's face it, though: our eyesight's not that good all the time. So even when we can't seem to be able to praise Him for what's coming in front of us, how can we pretend to forget what He's ALREADY done? We could literally spend 365 days in a year and not exhaust the number of times He was faithful to us or loved ones around us. Next time you're tempted to complain about how ungrateful your kids are, try remembering how God feels with HIS children and keep an attitude of gratitude because it's our REASONABLE service!

Prayer: Father, You are so faithful. Morning by morning, I feast on Your faithfulness, which You offer asking nothing in return but my devotion through worship, praise and thanksgiving. I open my mouth now so that You can fill it with the praise You deserve. May my life be filled with praises to You and only You for Who You are to me. I love You so much. In Jesus' Name, Amen.