| A MEDITATION ON THANKSGIVING |
The Judeo-Christian tradition is confessional. A Confession is an statement of faith expressing
trust in God through Christ for our salvation. This confession is ever present in our lips and in our
hearts, as Paul says to the Romans (see chapter 10 of this letter). The entire Book of Psalms is
but a book of confessions and prayer. We Christians are always confessing our faith and
proclaiming it to others. We have developed this attitude through the witness of Scripture.
Both the Old and New Testaments are replete of faith statements declaring that God is Sovereign,
deserving all honor and thanksgiving. Here is an example of such a confession of faith:
Given the seriousness of our confessional creeds, it is proper to echo the question of the psalmist
and consider what response to God could ours be in light of the Almighty's demeanor towards us.
What does it mean to lift up the cup of salvation, to call on the name of the Lord and to pay vows
to God in public? Let us briefly consider each statement.
CUP OF SALVATION
In love and complete freedom, God created existence, giving humans characteristics consistent
with the Creator's image, conferring them a major role as stewards of creation (Gen. 1:26-28). But
the very freedom bestowed upon humanity motivated humans to act contrary to God's
expectations. Deviating from the Will of the Most High, humanity fell into a state of damnation from
which no one could escape. Yet, the love of God for creation surpassed all aggravation. God
forgives all sins from those coming to Him in genuine confession and repentance, vowing to live
according to divine expectations. Such is the cup of salvation, which we lift up high.
CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD
Those whose attitudes toward life have changed as the result of their embracing God, show their
predisposition through consistent behavior. Their new life styles give top priority to the private
worship of God and study of Scripture. Prayer becomes their constant companion, as the
communication tool keeping believers in an on-going conversation with God. They express
thanksgiving, ask for direction and protection and listen for divine counsel.
PAY VOWS TO GOD
This is corporate worship. The people of God form the community of the covenant, people bound
to the Lord, working hard to maintain intimate relations with the Most High. They meet regularly to
express together to God their collective sentiment for having been brought by Him to enjoy
intimacy with the divine. In the words of another sacred poet, let us say: “Let us worship and bow
down. Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!”
We have much for which to offer thanksgiving. God created us in freedom and for freedom. God
created the universe simply because He wanted to. God also gave us the ability to be creative.
Yet, subjugation and oppression has been the norm for the masses throughout the millennia.
Social equality is a new social phenomenon. By enlarge the majority of the people of the world
continue to live under tyrannical regimes keeping them impoverished and oppressed. We, on the
other hand, live in a society, where everyone may exercises this God given-right to the fullest.
We cherish life, liberty and the opportunity to pursuit happiness.
However, freedom and democracy are ideals whose realization cost much in lives and property. In
our nation, many stretch these values to the limit. They appear to take for granted our way of life
and fail to understand the need to defend it. The land of the free and the home of the braves
came to be so through much struggle. But like countless other civilizations of the past, it too could
come to pass. Together we can work to maintain what we have and improve it. And the one way to
start is articulating deep expressions of thanksgiving to God for His Unspeakable gift.
Prayer. Most gracious and loving Father, we bow before you this thanksgiving season to express
our infinite gratitude for your benefits to us. We have received from you this year, way more than
we expected. You have been exceedingly gracious in health and in sickness, in prosperity and
wants. So, we pause to take inventory and marvel at your generosity. As we open our hearts to
you in thanksgiving, we also ask of your loving personality, to continue to lead us in such a way
that we may continue to grow in love toward you and understanding that with new insight we may
be able to engage in living even more according to your will. Amen.
trust in God through Christ for our salvation. This confession is ever present in our lips and in our
hearts, as Paul says to the Romans (see chapter 10 of this letter). The entire Book of Psalms is
but a book of confessions and prayer. We Christians are always confessing our faith and
proclaiming it to others. We have developed this attitude through the witness of Scripture.
Both the Old and New Testaments are replete of faith statements declaring that God is Sovereign,
deserving all honor and thanksgiving. Here is an example of such a confession of faith:
- What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of
salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now
in the presence of all his people (Ps. 116:12 ).
Given the seriousness of our confessional creeds, it is proper to echo the question of the psalmist
and consider what response to God could ours be in light of the Almighty's demeanor towards us.
What does it mean to lift up the cup of salvation, to call on the name of the Lord and to pay vows
to God in public? Let us briefly consider each statement.
CUP OF SALVATION
In love and complete freedom, God created existence, giving humans characteristics consistent
with the Creator's image, conferring them a major role as stewards of creation (Gen. 1:26-28). But
the very freedom bestowed upon humanity motivated humans to act contrary to God's
expectations. Deviating from the Will of the Most High, humanity fell into a state of damnation from
which no one could escape. Yet, the love of God for creation surpassed all aggravation. God
forgives all sins from those coming to Him in genuine confession and repentance, vowing to live
according to divine expectations. Such is the cup of salvation, which we lift up high.
CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD
Those whose attitudes toward life have changed as the result of their embracing God, show their
predisposition through consistent behavior. Their new life styles give top priority to the private
worship of God and study of Scripture. Prayer becomes their constant companion, as the
communication tool keeping believers in an on-going conversation with God. They express
thanksgiving, ask for direction and protection and listen for divine counsel.
PAY VOWS TO GOD
This is corporate worship. The people of God form the community of the covenant, people bound
to the Lord, working hard to maintain intimate relations with the Most High. They meet regularly to
express together to God their collective sentiment for having been brought by Him to enjoy
intimacy with the divine. In the words of another sacred poet, let us say: “Let us worship and bow
down. Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!”
We have much for which to offer thanksgiving. God created us in freedom and for freedom. God
created the universe simply because He wanted to. God also gave us the ability to be creative.
Yet, subjugation and oppression has been the norm for the masses throughout the millennia.
Social equality is a new social phenomenon. By enlarge the majority of the people of the world
continue to live under tyrannical regimes keeping them impoverished and oppressed. We, on the
other hand, live in a society, where everyone may exercises this God given-right to the fullest.
We cherish life, liberty and the opportunity to pursuit happiness.
However, freedom and democracy are ideals whose realization cost much in lives and property. In
our nation, many stretch these values to the limit. They appear to take for granted our way of life
and fail to understand the need to defend it. The land of the free and the home of the braves
came to be so through much struggle. But like countless other civilizations of the past, it too could
come to pass. Together we can work to maintain what we have and improve it. And the one way to
start is articulating deep expressions of thanksgiving to God for His Unspeakable gift.
Prayer. Most gracious and loving Father, we bow before you this thanksgiving season to express
our infinite gratitude for your benefits to us. We have received from you this year, way more than
we expected. You have been exceedingly gracious in health and in sickness, in prosperity and
wants. So, we pause to take inventory and marvel at your generosity. As we open our hearts to
you in thanksgiving, we also ask of your loving personality, to continue to lead us in such a way
that we may continue to grow in love toward you and understanding that with new insight we may
be able to engage in living even more according to your will. Amen.
| CONCLUSION |
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