The Good Life = The Thankful Life

Series: The Life Worth Living

A Heart of Thanksgiving

Bible Passage: Psalm 100

English Standard Version Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!

Serve the LORD with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the LORD, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the LORD is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.

Summary: Psalm 100 is a song of thanksgiving and praise. This psalm invites us to celebrate God's goodness and faithfulness. God inhabits the praises of His people, and we draw closer to God when we express an attitude gratitude and acknowledge Him as our Creator, Shepherd, and Savior.

Main Point: When we express gratitude to God for His blessings, he choses to bless us with even more blessings, and we will have a life worth living.

1. The Good Life begins with a positive attitude.

Psalm 100:1

Explanation: You could emphasize the call to joyful worship and thanksgiving as expressed in these verses. Highlight how the psalm invites all people to come into God's presence with joyful songs, showing that gratitude and praise are integral to our worship. By focusing on God's faithfulness, believers can experience genuine joy in His presence, helping them to transform their everyday struggles into opportunities for thanksgiving.

2. The Good Life involves service to God.

Psalm 100:2 ESV

2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

Explanation: We were created to serve God, not for God to serve us. Furthermore, we serve God by serving other people. Worship is where service starts.

3. The Good Life is based on God’s identity.

Psalm 100:3

Explanation: God is the source and fountain of all good things. Christians are God’s children, and we have a special relationship with Him. Our identity, and the good life we live, is wrapped up in God’s identity and who he is. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture, and He is our loving Shepherd. By acknowledging our identity in Christ, believers can cultivate gratitude, knowing that they are valued and loved by their Creator. This leads to personal empowerment and the ability to face life's challenges.

Scripture: Matthew 7:9-10 “Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

3. We enter God’s presence through thanksgiving

Psalm 100:4

Explanation: When we pray and express gratitude, God draws near to us and reveals himself to us. Why? Because God inhabits the praises of His people. We access God’s presence through joy and gladness. Thanksgiving is an act of faith, and it is through faith that we become God’s children. If you wish to approach God, you must do it with an attitude of gratitude. Gratitude transforms prayers into powerful moments of personal connection with God. You can nurture a deeper relationship with God, and by doing so, you can find peace in any difficult times.

4. The Good Life flows from God’s goodness and faithfulness

Psalm 100:5

Consider focusing on God's enduring nature as the foundation for gratitude. The psalm concludes with a declaration of God's goodness, love, and faithfulness, which are eternal. Highlighting how Jesus embodies these attributes can inspire believers to maintain a thankful heart, rooted in the assurance of God's unchanging promises. This empowers them to live in hope and share joy with others, impacting their community.

Conclusion

How this passage could point to Christ: Psalm 100 points to Christ Jesus. He is our Good Shepherd who supplies all of our needs. He promises us salvation and eternal life when we trust Him and celebrate in our thanksgiving.

Application: If you want to live the good life, then cultivate a lifestyle of thanksgiving. Gratitude honors God and it fills us with joy and peace. We can overcome depression and struggles when we follow these easy steps to express gratitude in every circumstances, so we can have a life worth living.

Teaching: Gratitude should be a significance aspect of our relationship with God. As our gratitude flow towards God, God’s blessings flow towards us, and this give and take will strengthen our faith and reliance on Him. Thanksgiving, worship, and praise should be daily ingredient in our lives.