Psalms 50:12-15 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
Today we have a sobering reminder that God does not need us. He does not need our "stuff" or the things we do, as if we were doing Him a favor by serving Him. We must not think so much of ourselves that we think that God or His ministries cannot survive without us. God does have a desire that we accept His offer of salvation in Christ Jesus. However, as His children, as God's saints, He does not want our empty worship. When we give back to Him, He does not want us to give as if He cannot survive without our miserable little offerings, that sometimes almost have to be pried out of our selfish hands. The psalmist reminds God's people that our God is self-sufficient. All that exists, and all that we have, belongs to Him. Lest we forget, He owns everything, including us. He is Judge and one day we will all give account. He reminds those who do evil that He is not like them, and His silence does not equal approval or mean that He has overlooked their wickedness. They need to be aware that judgment is coming. God summed up what He wants from His people in verse 14. He wants us to offer up thanksgiving, and live obedient to His Word. A life of faith, which is what pleases the Lord, is a life lived in obedience to God's commands, offering up thanksgiving and genuine praise. That is a life that communicates trust for God and His ways. In good times or bad, He desires that we take the narrow road of obedience, as that is the path that is not only best for us, but will also bring Him the most glory. If we truly love Him, then we will obey Him. Our God does not need to be taken care of by us. We must serve Him with a humble attitude, for He can, and has, even used a donkey to speak in service to Him (Numbers 22). He can replace any one of us, and still accomplish His will and plans. Let us be thankful today that the Lord, even though He does not need us, desires to use us in His service. What is even more amazing is that He even rewards us for the work we do in serving Him, when in fact He is the One working through us. Let us offer up thanks and praise, and do our best to be doers of God's Word, and not just hearers (James 1:22-27).
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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