One of the first chapters of Scripture I ever memorized is Psalm 100, and it is still one of my favorite portions of Scripture, because it extols the greatness of God and why He is worthy of our praise. While I would encourage you to read it -- and even memorize it -- in its entirety (it's only five verses), consider for now the simple exhortation in the second half of verse 4: "Be thankful to Him, and bless His name."
Scripture informs us that mankind in general is becoming increasingly unthankful, among other things (see 2 Timothy 3:1-5). Although we live in a thankless generation, ingratitude is not to be the mark of a Christian. God’s Word tells us, "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thess. 5:18).
In addition to thanking the Lord, we are also to "bless His name." The Hebrew word translated "bless" literally means "to kneel." The idea is to show honor and pay homage to God, acknowledging that His name is higher than any name on earth.
The Masai tribe in West Africa have an unusual way of saying thank-you. Whenever the Masai express thanks, they bow, put their foreheads on the ground, and say, "My head is in the dirt." When members of another African tribe want to express gratitude, they sit for a long time in front of the hut of the person who did the favor and literally say, "I sit on the ground before you." – These Africans understand well the essence of thankfulness and why it comes so hard to us: Because thanksgiving, at its very core, is an act of humility. It is acknowledging that, apart from God, we can do nothing. To lift up high the name of the Lord, we must lower our opinion of ourselves! We must "not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think" (Rom. 12:3). Then, and only then, will our worship be genuine and pleasing to the Lord.
May the Lord fill each of us with His joy as we "thank" and "bless" Him for who He is and all that He has done for us through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Scripture informs us that mankind in general is becoming increasingly unthankful, among other things (see 2 Timothy 3:1-5). Although we live in a thankless generation, ingratitude is not to be the mark of a Christian. God’s Word tells us, "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thess. 5:18).
In addition to thanking the Lord, we are also to "bless His name." The Hebrew word translated "bless" literally means "to kneel." The idea is to show honor and pay homage to God, acknowledging that His name is higher than any name on earth.
The Masai tribe in West Africa have an unusual way of saying thank-you. Whenever the Masai express thanks, they bow, put their foreheads on the ground, and say, "My head is in the dirt." When members of another African tribe want to express gratitude, they sit for a long time in front of the hut of the person who did the favor and literally say, "I sit on the ground before you." – These Africans understand well the essence of thankfulness and why it comes so hard to us: Because thanksgiving, at its very core, is an act of humility. It is acknowledging that, apart from God, we can do nothing. To lift up high the name of the Lord, we must lower our opinion of ourselves! We must "not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think" (Rom. 12:3). Then, and only then, will our worship be genuine and pleasing to the Lord.
May the Lord fill each of us with His joy as we "thank" and "bless" Him for who He is and all that He has done for us through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.