Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 14

Annual Bible Reading Plan:

EZK.38-39
JHN.13

2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 14:
Give Thanks for God Accepting Our Offerings (Psalm 51:16-19)
(Memorize verses 16-17)
16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise.
18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

Reflection:
At the end of Psalm 51, after David's prayers for forgiveness and renewal of his spirit, he shifts to seek the Lord's acceptance of his and the people's offerings. In his prayer, he asks how he can present offerings that are pleasing to God—referring generally to peace offerings and burnt offerings—indicating his deep longing to restore his communion with God and to offer worship and devotion in His presence after receiving forgiveness! Thank the Lord, for in his prayer, David understood the right attitude of offering—“a broken and contrite heart” is valued by God more than the offerings themselves, and God “will not despise” such offerings. What a blessing, as David's prayer provides us with invaluable insight into offerings! On one hand, we receive the grace of forgiveness from God, and even more so, the redemptive grace of God sacrificing His only Son. We ought to respond with our lives offered to Him in gratitude. On the other hand, in the presence of the holy, righteous, and abundant God, our ability to offer anything is unworthy and can only be made possible through His grace and mercy. Thank the Lord for His incredible love toward us, forgiving all our sins and transgressions, and for accepting our offerings in accordance with His will. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)