A Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

[God said,] “I don’t need the bulls you sacrifice; I don’t need the blood of goats. What I want instead is your true thanks to God; I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High. Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” Psalm 50:13-15

What does God want from us? Does he want an outward show or performance, attendance at a host of church meetings, or sacrificial giving of a certain amount of money to his work? Does he want feigned obedience or responses of certain words? No, he says in these verses that in our times of trouble he wants simple, heartfelt thanks and trust in him. Maybe you aren’t feeling thankful today because your prayers haven’t yet been answered. Perhaps you haven’t seen the provision of money you need, or someone you love hasn’t turned from a life of sin. How can we give thanks to God in light of unresolved difficulties that discourage us and weigh us down? How can we praise him when the cup looks empty? God knows how wearying these troubles are to us, and he finds it a sweet gift when in our brokenness we choose to give thanks to him and acknowledge that he will rescue us. That is precisely when our thanks becomes a sacrifice that his Word says truly honors him (v. 23) and gives him glory.

Prayers:
LORD, thank you for not being interested in outward displays but in the condition of my heart. I want to offer that sweet sacrifice of thanksgiving. Help me to turn to you in times of trouble, to trust you, and even then to be thankful. For in this way I will bring you glory.

Quotes:
Thou hast given so much to me Give one thing more—a grateful heart: Not thankful when it pleaseth me, As if thy blessings had spare days, But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
George Herbert (1593–1633)

The One Year Bible Readings for today are: Song of Songs 1:1–4:16; 2 Corinthians 8:16-24; Psalm 50:1-23 and Proverbs 22:22-23.