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Let The Redeemed Of The Lord Say This


Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say this—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south (Psalm 107:1-3)
          The psalms repeats this refrain so often that I've skipped some thanksgiving verses because they were repetitions of  "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures forever." How many times can a person write about the same three phrases? I'm reminded that Charles Spurgeon supposedly gave hundreds of sermons about candles. I have no idea how. I need to read them someday. I suppose that means that I can write another about giving thanks for God's goodness and love.
       One of the good things He has done is that He has redeemed us from the hand of the foe. Several foes come to mind: the world, the flesh and the devil are a good start. Another comes to mind based on a line from the Pogo comic strip: "We have met the enemy and he is us." God compensates for my faults, shortcomings and sins. He not only pays the debt I've incurred in the past, He continues to pay the debt that I am getting myself into now.  More correctly, He already paid it - once for all time - but it's sort of like an annuity, it keeps paying out. 
         When I get mad at myself or someone else unjustly or in that anger act unjustly and I take that grievance to God, He says, "Jesus paid for that with His life." When someone calls me "hateful" because I am, or even just because I don't agree with them, God says, "Jesus paid for that with His life." When I walk by someone without giving the love that person is owed, God says, "Jesus paid for that with His life." I'm not suggesting we see how big a debt we can run up, but it's been paid, however high we do. Of course, we can refuse that payment on our behalf, but there's no way I'll ever pay mine. So, yes, I can be thankful because my God is good, his love endures forever. He has not only redeemed me, but continues to redeem me.

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