Column by Sumter Pastor Joey Durham: We should give thanks to God, for He is good
Our devotion today is "Thanksgiving," and my text is Psalm 107:1-2, where we read these inspired words, "O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy" (KJV)
This is the second time in the Psalms that David is encouraging us to give thanks unto our Lord, for He is good! This week, America observes a day of Thanksgiving. It is such a tremendous blessing to live in a nation where such a day is observed yearly, even though many don't even realize the basis for its observance. I am so grateful to God for letting me be born and raised and live in America and for the Godly heritage that we have. No other nation on this earth has been blessed by the God of Heaven like America has been blessed! Our text emphasizes the goodness and the tenderness of God's mercies. Everyone should, but we as Christians especially, should "give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good!"
As we observe this national holiday of Thanksgiving, many in America will not pause to consider the goodness and mercy of God and say "thank you" to the Lord. When I pastored in Kentucky, I had a lady in our church who was afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis, which caused her to have an extremely difficult time walking and doing things that many of us take for granted every day. I remember something she told me when I was helping her one day. She said, "Thank you, preacher." I said, "You're welcome." She said, "It doesn't cost anyone anything to be thankful and say,' Thank you.'" That is so true. Because of God's goodness, we enjoy so many gifts that other people around the world do not enjoy, such as the freedoms of worship, speech and the press as well as the gracious material blessings that God has bestowed upon us. As Christians, we have even more to be thankful for. We have been blessed with salvation, the forgiveness of all our sin, eternal life, the preserved Word of God in the Authorized King James and the great and precious promises we find in God's Word. Really, every day should be a day of Thanksgiving for believers wherein we gratefully do what verse 22 of this chapter states, "And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing." (KJV) From Barbara and myself, as well as our entire church family of Open Bible Baptist Church, we pray that you and your family will remember and reflect upon the goodness of God to you and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Joey Durham is pastor at Open Bible Baptist Church at 180 Old Manning Road in Sumter. You can contact Pastor Durham at durham.joey@yahoo.com or call the church office at (803) 481-9315.