Title: The Traveler's Gratitude on November 20, 2005 (voice)
Contents
my thanks
Pilgrim's Thanksgiving
Psalm 126
November 20, 2005 Thanksgiving Sunday Sermon
When the Lord returned the captives from Zion to Zion, we were like dreamers. Then our mouths were filled with laughter, and our tongues filled with shouts of praise. At that time the people of other nations also spoke. “The Lord has done great things for them.” How glad we were when the Lord was on our side and did great things! Lord, send back the captives as the streams of Negev flow again. Negev streams are always dry. Those who sow in tears reap with joy. He who goes out weeping to sow seeds returns with joy with an altar.
********************* Two kinds of people *********************
There was an argument between a Christian who believed in God and an atheist who said there was no God. Christians argued that God is omnipresent, while atheists argued that God never existed and that it was created by man. Since they didn't agree with each other, they decided to ask a very good computer and did so.
Does God exist in computers? , and the computer immediately gave an answer, which is 12 letters. g o d i s n o w h e r e
Seeing this, the atheist chuckled and said: look at this “God is nowhere. Where is God?” He said with satisfaction.
Then the Christian said. No, what the computer said was "God is now here".
In the end, computers were not the answer either. The text is the same, but the two have completely different interpretations. Seeing the same thing, some may discover God, and some may ignore God. Ultimately, it is a matter of the heart and a matter of faith.
Christians see God here and now. Recognize the presence of the Lord wherever and whenever. This is important, but it is not enough. It is important to acknowledge that He exists, but you have not yet formed a relationship with Him.
********************* THANK YOU *********************
One more thing is needed here. It's thanks. When you say thank you, you already have a relationship with that person. Being grateful already shows that there is an important relationship. So, if there is only true gratitude, half of your life of faith is over.
So, as I have always emphasized, the life of faith can be expressed in one simple word. It is to say a prayer of thanks at meals, to eat - to enjoy - to give thanks without complaining about the food.
Our life of faith is to be thankful for our life and to live in that gratitude. So, gratitude is the center of the life of faith. In other words, if you do well in the life of gratitude, the life of faith will come automatically.
********************* Thanks in the text *******************
But let's take a closer look at what this life of faith is like through the text. Today's psalm has two subtitles: “Rejoice in the Harvest” and “Song of the Pilgrims Going Up to the Temple.” It is the song of the stranger that the Israelites sang when they went up to the temple, and at the same time, it is the song of the harvest that was sung at the time of harvest. Giving thanks for the harvest has to do with praising as a stranger, and there are two important points to this.
1. It is acknowledging that ownership belongs to God.
Giving thanks for the harvest also means rejoicing that God has given me such a harvest, but it has a deeper meaning than that. It is to be thankful that ownership belongs to God.
A traveler cannot own many things, but possession is a burden in the traveler's life. To give thanks for the harvest as a stranger is to give thanks for the joy of receiving God's. A stranger's thanksgiving giving ownership to God is a Christian's gratitude. It is to thank God for what God has given us on this world's pilgrim path to the eternal kingdom.
2. It is the joy of those who work with all their might.
Today's text reads, "He who sows in tears reaps with joy. He who goes out weeping to sow seeds returns with joy with an altar.” It shows that repetition is important.
True gratitude belongs to those who sow with tears. It's never been easy to know how precious a blessing it is to work. Because when you work, you will face many difficulties and there will be times when you will shed tears. But it is a precious mystery of life to experience true gratitude through the difficulties that weep.
Today's text is based on the experience of the Israelites returning from captivity in Babylon. Think about it. The background of this psalm is that after returning from captivity, we have to rebuild our houses, build walls, and cultivate fields to start farming. How hard is it? Those who sow weeping like this can truly be grateful.
******************* conclusion *******************
Unbelievers will laugh if weeping and sowers thank God. If there is a God, you may ridicule that it is okay if you don't work and God gives you something to eat. But our gratitude is not like that.
There is a wonderful gratitude that only those who work for peace and sow and weep. We have the gratitude of those who serve the Lord's Church and sow and weep. There is a moving thanks of those who pray with tears for their loved ones.
This is the path our Lord has shown us. The Lord endured the suffering of the cross for us and sowed seeds with tears. So He accomplished our salvation. Receive our worship today with joy. You reap the altar with joy.