Offering Thanks

A psalm of Asaph. The LORD, the Mighty One, is God, and He has spoken; He has summoned all humanity from where the sun rises to where it sets. From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines in glorious radiance. Our God approaches, and He is not silent. Fire devours everything in His way, and a great storm rages around Him. He calls on the heavens above and earth below to witness the judgment of His people. (Psalms 50:1-4 NLT)

I enjoy the holiday season.  It's the one time of the year that spiritual conversations pop up all over the place.  It doesn't matter where a person is in there relationship or walk with God, sometime during this season they will find themselves talking about God this season.  God get's our attention during these holidays.

"Bring My faithful people to Me—those who made a covenant with Me by giving sacrifices." Then let the heavens proclaim His justice, for God Himself will be the judge. Interlude "O My people, listen as I speak. Here are My charges against you, O Israel: I am God, your God! (Psalms 50:5-7 NLT)

God got the attention of Israel in this Psalm.  It was a period of time where they were going through the motions of following God, but they really weren't.  In our day, it would be the equivalent of going to church services on a regular basis, giving money at offering time, then leaving the building and starting the week out by cussing someone out in the parking lot.  They were going through the motions, but not really walking with God.  So, God had a few things to say to them.

I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly offer. But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens. For all the animals of the forest are Mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is Mine and everything in it. Do I eat the meat of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats? Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on Me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give Me glory." (Psalms 50:8-15 NLT)

I'm intrigued by God's response to their poor lifestyle.  

He tells them exactly what they should be doing:

Step 1 - Offer Thanks - God has done so much for us and continues to do more that we recognize for us each and every day. True sacrifices (true worship), He says, begins with simple recognition and thanks.  It's not about animal sacrifices or money or singing songs with the right words.  When we begin with thanksgiving, true thanksgiving, our heart is in the right place to worship.

Step 2 - Walk with Him - The vows God references here are the vows to follow Him and His Law.  They all committed to it, but now they were not following it.

But God says to the wicked: "Why bother reciting My decrees and pretending to obey My covenant? For you refuse My discipline and treat My words like trash. When you see thieves, you approve of them, and you spend your time with adulterers. Your mouth is filled with wickedness, and your tongue is full of lies. You sit around and slander your brother—your own mother's son. While you did all this, I remained silent, and you thought I didn't care. But now I will rebuke you, listing all My charges against you. Repent, all of you who forget Me, or I will tear you apart, and no one will help you. (Psalms 50:16-22 NLT)

Haven't been giving God thanksgiving for all He has done?  Haven't been following Him and walking in His ways?  God gives one simple answer to your predicament.  Repent.  Turn around.  Come back to Him.  Put God first in your life again.  What a great season to remember this one step.  Take the season of Thanksgiving to be thankful to Him.  Put God first in your life again.  Praise Him for all the good He has done.  Then, you are ready for the real blessings He wants to pour out on you.

But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors Me. If you keep to My path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God." (Psalms 50:23 NLT)