THANKS BE TO GOD…

THANKS BE TO GOD… for His LOVE, GRACE and MERCY. We don’t need to look far to see the hand of God upon us, and the outing out of His love, grace and mercy, upon us and upon all that belongs to us. A look at the Cross of Calvary will demonstrated to us who our God is, and how He deals with us. What should be our response to such a God? How should we be reciprocating to this God who poured out His love, grace and mercy upon us? Let us see how best we can answer it.

1- LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS US
The love of God is poured out upon us unconditionally and generously. Let us read what the Bible has to say about this.
– “9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” – 1 John 4:9
– “10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” – 1 John 4:10
– “6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:6-8

2- GRACE OF GOD TOWARDS US
The grace of God is poured out upon us unconditionally and generously. Let us read what the Bible has to say about this.
– “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9
– “16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” – John 1:16-17
– “15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:15-16

3- MERCY OF GOD TOWARDS US
The mercy of God is poured out upon us unconditionally and generously. Let us read what the Bible has to say about this.
– “8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 9 He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.” – Psalm 103:8-10
– “21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:21-23
– “4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” – Titus 3:4-7

God generously poured out His LOVE, GRACE and MERCY upon us. It doesn’t need a genius to figure this out. It is plainly obvious for everyone. When we have received unmeritedly, at the hands of God, such love, grace and mercy, how then should we be responding to His benevolence towards us? We should be THANKING, PRAISING and WORSHIPPING our LORD Jesus with all our hearts, with all our being, with all our substance, all the days of our lives. This is a proper response to all what God had done, is doing, and will do in the future, in our lives. Even though it is a feeble attempt, but it is important and appropriate. Therefore, let us…
– “4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.” – Psalm 100:4-5
– “​1 Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” – Psalm 103:1-5
Even so the LORD help us.