In all areas of the Bible I have found a reoccurring theme which tells us to enter into his courts with thanksgiving and to praise and bless his holy name. Of course in order to understand this repeating statement all I had to do was ask the question why?
The answer I came up with is that if we do not give thanks then we are leading ourselves into vain self righteousness and self reliance as well as a sense of false satisfaction. Totally opposite of what the Bible teaches, for both our righteousness and reliance are to be founded in Christ Jesus alone. The act of giving praise to God simply entrenches in our minds a right perspective of both God and ourselves. To not do so would be a failure to put God first, the creator and origin of all things.We on our own have been found lacking, have fallen short and are sinful. And as a result we have lost the ability and privilege of being in the God presence, for he cannot abide sinfulness.
Every day, every minute is from God, the whole Earth and everything in it is his. When we chose not to acknowledge or respect this truth with our actions, it shows a lack of thankfulness and irreverence. Like Adam and Eve in the garden, we too tend not to focus on what we have but rather what we do not. Coveting that which we have not or are not supposed to have is what separated us from him in the first place. I find it ironic that the action that we are called to praise and thanksgiving, is in paradox to the original sin of coveting, the ultimate expression of ungratefulness.
And let us not forget the most important reason we all have to be thankful; that after all this, he sent his son to die on the cross for us as a substitute so we might have the opportunity to escape judgement and have his righteousness bridge the gap in the relationship between us and God. We have been restored Hallelujah, thank and praise his name.
Here are the verses I referenced.
- Psalm 100:4
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Psalm 100:3-5 (in Context) Psalm 100 (Whole Chapter) - Romans 1:21
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Romans 1:20-22 (in Context) Romans 1 (Whole Chapter) - Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Colossians 3:14-16 (in Context) Colossians 3 (Whole Chapter)
- 2 Samuel 22:50
Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
2 Samuel 22:49-51 (in Context) 2 Samuel 22 (Whole Chapter) - 1 Chronicles 16:8
Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.
1 Chronicles 16:7-9 (in Context) 1 Chronicles 16 (Whole Chapter) - 1 Chronicles 16:34
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
1 Chronicles 16:33-35 (in Context) 1 Chronicles 16 (Whole Chapter) - 1 Chronicles 16:35
And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.
1 Chronicles 16:34-36 (in Context) 1 Chronicles 16 (Whole Chapter) - 1 Chronicles 16:41
And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever;
1 Chronicles 16:40-42 (in Context) 1 Chronicles 16 (Whole Chapter) - 1 Chronicles 25:3
Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.
1 Chronicles 25:2-4 (in Context) 1 Chronicles 25 (Whole Chapter) - 2 Chronicles 31:2
And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 31:1-3 (in Context) 2 Chronicles 31 (Whole Chapter) - Nehemiah 12:24
And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward.
Nehemiah 12:23-25 (in Context) Nehemiah 12 (Whole Chapter) - Psalm 18:49
Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
Psalm 18:48-50 (in Context) Psalm 18 (Whole Chapter)
- Psalm 136:1
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 136:1-3 (in Context) Psalm 136 (Whole Chapter) - Psalm 136:2
O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 136:1-3 (in Context) Psalm 136 (Whole Chapter) - Psalm 136:3
O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 136:2-4 (in Context) Psalm 136 (Whole Chapter) - Psalm 136:26
O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 136:25-26 (in Context) Psalm 136 (Whole Chapter) - Psalm 140:13
Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.
Psalm 140:12-13 (in Context) Psalm 140 (Whole Chapter) - Mark 14:23
And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
Mark 14:22-24 (in Context) Mark 14 (Whole Chapter) - Luke 22:19
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Luke 22:18-20 (in Context) Luke 22 (Whole Chapter) - John 6:11
And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
John 6:10-12 (in Context) John 6 (Whole Chapter) - John 6:23
(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)
John 6:22-24 (in Context) John 6 (Whole Chapter) - Romans 14:6
He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
Romans 14:5-7 (in Context) Romans 14 (Whole Chapter) - Romans 16:4
Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
Romans 16:3-5 (in Context) Romans 16 (Whole Chapter) - 1 Corinthians 10:30
For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
1 Corinthians 10:29-31 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 10 (Whole Chapter) - 1 Corinthians 11:24
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
1 Corinthians 11:23-25 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 11 (Whole Chapter) - 1 Corinthians 14:17
For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
1 Corinthians 14:16-18 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 14 (Whole Chapter) - 1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:56-58 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 15 (Whole Chapter) - 2 Corinthians 1:11
Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
2 Corinthians 1:10-12 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 1 (Whole Chapter) - Ephesians 1:16
Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
Ephesians 1:15-17 (in Context) Ephesians 1 (Whole Chapter) - Colossians 1:3
We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
Colossians 1:2-4 (in Context) Colossians 1 (Whole Chapter) - 1 Thessalonians 1:2
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
1 Thessalonians 1:1-3 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 1 (Whole Chapter) - 1 Thessalonians 5:18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-19 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 5 (Whole Chapter) - 2 Thessalonians 2:13
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
2 Thessalonians 2:12-14 (in Context) 2 Thessalonians 2 (Whole Chapter) - Revelation 4:9
And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
Revelation 4:8-10 (in Context) Revelation 4 (Whole Chapter) - Revelation 11:17
Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
Revelation 11:16-18 (in Context) Revelation 11 (Whole Chapter)
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