It has been a long time since I've tried to fool someone on April 1st. Mitch, our son, now a dad of two, was really good at it. Many mornings of 4/1, someone would discover the results of a trick or two before breakfast. But it made for good fun and good-natures.
But there are no tricks to God's vows. The psalmist says in Psalm 50 verses 14 and 15, "Make thanksgiving your sacrifice to God and pay your vows to the Most High. Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify me."
The Psalmist tells the Israelites that God wants not animal or human sacrifices to show our love and dependence on Him. He wants only a sacrifice of thanksgiving--a joyful, exuberant heart that races to proclaim the great gift we have received--salvation--and to proclaim how thankful we are for God's many blessings.
Jesus made clear that what He wants is not sacrifice from us as we think of it as something that we give up, but he wants us to give Him praise, glory, and thanksgiving. The joy of the Lord shows to the world a sharp contrast between joy and despair, which calls me and others to "Come and follow."
Lord God, my thankfulness overflows as I worship at your feet. AMEN.
And we, together, pray for future Oneness...Oneness in Christ, all people everywhere. Let it be so!
Jo INMN
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