Thanksgiving – Our Calling

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the sons of Israel that they bring to you clear oil from beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually. Outside the veil of testimony in the tent of meeting, Aaron shall keep it in order from evening to morning before the Lord continually; it shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations. He shall keep the lamps in order on the pure gold lampstand before the Lord continually.” Leviticus 24:1 – 4.

As the priesthood of Aaron was to focus on worship, so the priesthood of the people of God (1 Peter 2:9) is likewise to focus on worship (John 4:23). No matter what else may be occurring in our lives, we are called to worship God our Father, Jesus Christ our Lord, and the Holy Spirt our Comforter – the Trinity.

Paul writes that the people of God are to give thanks in everything, in all circumstances, “…for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thess. 5:18). Whatever we do, we are to do in the name of our Lord Jesus, “…giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

Thanksgiving is essential to worship. In thanksgiving we acknowledge God as God, we recognize Him as Sovereign. As did the priesthood of Aaron we are to, “…continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15)

Each one of us, in Jesus Christ, is similar to the Tabernacle of Moses in that we are to be a place where God dwells and a place in which worship with thanksgiving is continually offered up to God. The difference between us and the Tabernacle of Moses is that the true Tabernacle has come (John 1:14), Jesus Christ, and we have been brought into Him, and in being brought “into Christ” we now share in His life, the Divine Nature (2 Peter 1:4), and participate in the priesthood and ministry of Christ – the former things have passed away and the new creation in Christ has come, and is coming.

There is a seamless chorus of praise between the heavens and the earth – (Revelation chapters 4 and 5) – as the Body on earth worships the Father and the Son, so the Body in heaven worships the Father and Son, for we are one Body (Hebrews 12:18 – 24). The communion of worship, praise, adoration, thanksgiving – the music of the spheres, of the heavens, of the birds and the critters, of the stars – it is our calling and honor to participate in the symphony of the Holy Spirit as we adore Him who sits on the Throne and the Lamb who is worthy to open the book. (Psalms 148, 149, 150).