Choosing to give thanks…together

Jerusalem, built as a city should be,
solidly united,
where the tribes, the Lord’s tribes, go up
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.

(This is an ordinance for Israel.) (Psalm 122:3-4)

That last phrase really struck me.

The people of Israel were commanded to go up to Jerusalem three times a year for special festivals and give thanks to the Lord.

Obviously, as Christians, we don’t celebrate those festivals. But we are commanded to give thanks. And to rejoice. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

We are particularly commanded to do this together with God’s people. (Ephesians 5:18-20)

Why is it important to have a heart of thanksgiving?

I think we see the results of not doing so in Romans 1.

For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:21)

It is so easy to focus on the problems that we face in life.

When we do that, we often become discouraged or cynical, we start doubting God, and we start thinking the way this world thinks.

And when that happens, our thinking starts to become worthless, and our hearts become darkened.

Let us not fall into that trap.

Rather, let us remember all we have to be thankful for and choose to rejoice.

And let us not avoid the fellowship of other believers, no matter what problems we may be having.

Instead, let us say with David,

I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let’s go to the house of the Lord.” (1)