“I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord” (Ps. 116:17).

The psalmist is portraying the gratitude of a humble servant (cf. Ps. 116:16).  It is interesting that thanksgiving is identified here as a sacrifice unto God.  Thanksgiving, therefore, demands that the offeror give of himself in the expressing of thanks.  Hence, the heart of gratitude is being offered through the words given.  The Lord would know if the heart is in the words or not (cf. Ps. 139:2).  Consider three reasons from Psalm 116 why the psalmist would give a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

1. Hearing of Prayers. “I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclinded his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live” (Ps. 116:1-2).  A child of God is truly blessed in knowing that the Father hears His childrens’ request.  Why would one pray to God if he/she did not believe that God does not hear?  Mankind is often thankful for friends and family that would take the time to listen to them, especially if they believed that they had to ability to respond favorably.  How much more is this true when one is reaching out to God?  The New Testament declares such as well (cf. 1 Peter 3:12).
2. Help from Trouble and Sorrow. “Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me” (Ps. 116:5-6).  Previous to this statement, he wrote, “The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow” (Ps. 116:3).  Here is an indication of how much trouble his life was in when he prayed to the Lord God.  If it were not for God’s help, he would have met the end of life.  How much should a person who is given another day to live being freed from the ordeals of life give a sacrifice of thanksgiving?  Think of those in the military who have faced active combat and lived to see more days.  Think of those who have overcome diseases that could have easily taken their lives but survived.  Truly, gratitude and its corresponding life should follow from such blessings.  The psalmist even asked, “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?” (Ps. 116:12).
3. Hope even in Death. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” (Ps. 116:15).  Life here will not exist forever (cf. Heb. 9:27).  Eternal life is promised beyond this life (cf. 1 John 2:25).  This psalm addresses God’s deliverance from death and yet speaks of the death of saints.  One can truly give the sacrifice of thanksgiving in knowing that God is with His people, even in death.  Solomon wrote, “The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death” (Prov. 14:32).

Jimmy Clark

“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20).

It is not uncommon in the electronic media to see posts like “What Elders Want All Members to Know” or “What Members Wish All Elders/Preachers Knew” as a message to communicate the needs of the church.  However, the problem with finite man is that he does not always know what is needed.  Man often confuses what are needs to what are mere wants.  The question should rather be “What Does the Lord Want All Brethren to Know?”  Consider three topics complementary of the passage above that show a sampling of what the New Testament declares is needed.

1. Truth Continues to Set One Free. Jesus clearly stated to certain followers, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).  Fake news is nothing new.  The devil has been lying from the beginning (cf. John 8:44).  His ministers (cf. 2 Cor. 11:12-15) are still alive and well in every quarter of the world.  It is the “word of truth” (James 1:18) that begat children of God.  It is that same “incorruptible seed” (1 Peter 1:23) that is to continue in the child to keep one from practicing a life of sin (cf. 1 John 3:9).  It is through the obedience of the truth (cf. 1 Peter 1:22) that one purified his/her soul.  One cannot deviate from the light of truth and be in fellowship with God (cf. 1 John 1:6-10).  Brethren are to love the truth (cf. 2 Thess. 2:10).  God’s people are exhorted to buy it and sell it not (cf. Prov. 23:23).  Truth is consistent and reliable in contrast to falsehood that deceives and harms.
2. Turn Away from Every Evil. Peter wrote, “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it” (1 Peter 3:10-11).  Solomon wrote to his son, “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil” (Prov. 3:7).  Again, “A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident” (Prov. 14:16).  And again, “The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul” (Prov. 16:17).  Sin truly is an insult to any people (cf. Prov. 14:34).
3. Take Responsibility for One’s Own Decisions and Actions. Paul wrote, “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:11-12).  As soon as Adam and Eve were confronted with their sin, they attempted to pass the responsibility to someone else (cf. Gen. 3:12-13).  The Lord said to Cain after his rejection, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him” (Gen. 4:7).  Attempting to avoid responsibility is as old as time.  Confessing and forsaking one’s sins brings mercy (cf. Prov. 28:13).  King Saul tried to put the accountability on the people (cf. 1 Sam. 15:15) while King David admitted his sin (cf. 2 Sam. 12:13; Ps. 32:5).  Personal responsibility is a sign of maturity and integrity.  May all appreciate the things God wants for us.

Jimmy Clark

“Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well” (Ex. 2:15).

The Holy Spirit through Luke records of Moses, “And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?” (Acts 7:23-28).  Both the Old and New Testaments declare that Moses took a lead in seeking to deliver Israel but the leadership of Moses was not to be for another forty years (cf. Acts 7:30).  He would spend time in the wilderness that would be valuable to his future.  Consider three aspects of his training that have practical applications.

1. Taking a Wife and Having Two Sons. Moses wrote of himself, “And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land” (Ex. 2:21-22).  Luke records that Moses had two sons at this time (cf. Acts 7:29) as does Moses himself in the book of Exodus (cf. Ex. 4:20).  Moses gained valuable experience in the ruling of his own home.  The first proving ground of a great leader is among those with whom he has the greatest influence.  If there is a problem within the house, what shall be the situation concerning the household of God (cf. 1 Tim. 3:5)?  Moses would be married for forty years with two sons before God would call him to be the great leader of Israel.
2. Tending to Sheep. “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb” (Ex. 3:1).  Moses would not be the soldier type leader of an Egyptian but the shepherd type leader of a Hebrew.  He would go before the flock of God and lead as a true shepherd.  The great king David was first a shepherd before he ultimately became king over Israel.  Handling the daily responsibilities of sheep would give preparation for the arduous work with God’s flock.
3. Time with the Lord. Moses finally gets a course in spiritual training at age 80 (cf. Acts 7:30; Ex. 3:2-4:17).  He would learn about himself before the Lord.  He would learn that the power of leadership was not in himself but in the Lord who was with him (cf. Ex. 3:11-12).  He would learn that the Lord’s instructions are to be passed on and that the Lord’s word could be fully trusted.  He would learn that his weaknesses are the tools of God’s strength.  He would learn that human inadequacies could be overcome through teaching and application (cf. Ex. 4:10-12).  He would learn that quitting on the Lord is not an option.  The imperfections of Moses can show all leaders, present and future, that God can use the humble man.

Jimmy Clark