Oh, Taste and See

By Mike Baker
    The leaves are falling, the days are shorter and time is nearing to gather with family and loved ones to have a period of thanksgiving.  All  school  children learn the story of our American Thanksgiving, complete with the Indians, Pilgrims, and bountiful harvest of food. We also soon learn to associate Thanksgiving with many other things‑turkey, football, parades, visits to grandparents, time off from work, etc.
    Having been so blessed to live in such a country, we sometimes overlook or fail to fully appreciate all that we have. Having a time of the year when everyone pauses to be thankful is a good thing. But the commercialism of this time of year also seems to overshadow the basic concept of the holiday. That is, of course, to thank God.
    David wrote in Ps. 34:1‑2, "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad."
    For the faithful child of God, thanksgiving is always on his lips as he praises God. Knowing that we have been forgiven from our sins, we learn to humble ourselves and thank God frequently each day.
    Later in the same Psalm, David writes, "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing." Ps. 34:8‑10.
    Let us resolve to be thankful to God each and every day for all that we have‑our health, our families, our friends, our employment, our relationship with God through Jesus, etc.   Let us also resolve to encourage others around us  to do so as well.
    Paul writes in 2 Cor. 9:10‑11, "now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God."
    "Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together." Ps. 34:3. "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"  2 Cor. 9:15.

‑ Mike Baker,  Lewisburg, TN; via The Encourager, the weekly bulletin for the Calvert City church of Christ, Calvert City, KY.  Lance Cordle preaches for the congregation.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com