PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING.
By H. A. St. John
“WHOSO offereth praise glorifieth Me,” Ps. 50:23. “O that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men,” Ps. 107:8. 1. God’s goodness leads to repentance. Rom. 2:4: “The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.” Who can intently contemplate God’s goodness to the children of men, and not be truly sorry for all sins against Him. A true sense of God’s goodness leads to a true sense of sinfulness, and to a true godly sorrow for sin. 2. Praise and thanksgiving stimulate obedience, watchfulness, and prayer. “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving,” Col. 4:2. It will help in the payment of vows. Ps. 50:14: “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High.” And without doubt the practise of thanksgiving will aid much in ordering the conversation aright. God often causes the wrath of man to praise Him. Instance the cases of Paul and Silas, singing praises to God at midnight in the Philippian jail, the three Hebrew children, Daniel in the lion’s den. Our Saviour enjoins that when persecuted, and all manner of evil is said against us for His sake, we should rejoice and be exceeding glad. When we reveal true gratitude and thanksgiving for blessings received, we prepare the way for greater blessings.