Pause and Worship

Take a moment to rejoice over the life-changing truths of Jesus' birth, death, resurrection, and return. How have these gospel truths changed you, and how will you help make them known?

"Come, Ye Thankful People" is considered to be one of the most well-known and frequently sung harvest-thanksgiving hymns in all of hymnody.

The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness."
- Jeremiah 31:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
- Ephesians 1:3

In many of our songs in the past we have explored the reality of our sorrows, but with Psalm 150, we wanted to emphasize the power of how the book of Psalms culminates - in overwhelming joy and praise!

After reading through these professions of faith, take some time to consider your own. How do they align with what's expressed in this song? What else do you believe, and how might you profess these beliefs today?

The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.
- Psalm 28:7

The greatest sign of love ever expressed: Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for His friends . Through His blood, Jesus has saved us from our sin, both now and eternally.

This is the gospel, the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ, and these are the wonderful words of life that the hymn writer desired be sung to Him over and over again.

Christ continues to "enter our brokenness" each day, proving to us us over and over again that His love is indeed an enduring, everlasting love —a love from which nothing can separate us.

But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
- Galatians 6:14

Show us Christ. O God, reveal Your glory
Through the preaching of Your word.
Until every heart confesses, Christ is Lord.

Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.
- Revelation 15:4

We can be confident that when we pray to the Holy Spirit with such belief in His presence and power, He will make His presence and power known in our lives. Be encouraged to use this hymn as a personal prayer today.

It's clear that the writer of this song has a mature awareness of Christ and steadfast faith in Him, as the song is overflowing with worship and conviction. Let's look first at the worship side—who does the songwriter say that Jesus is?

Our belief in Christ goes much deeper than just believing that He existed. We believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He stands supreme as the King of Kings, seated at the right hand of God, the Father.

Above all powers, above all kings,
Above all nature and all created things:
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man,
You were here before the world began.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Hope and salvation is in Him alone. Is this also our personal profession? Does this truth of Jesus Christ resonate within our hearts?

The most important question and the one that demands our greatest attention and consideration, is the one that's reiterated throughout the song: Is He worthy? More specifically—is Jesus Christ worthy of all blessing, honor, and glory?

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
- Revelation 21:4

We come to both recognize and profess who God is. And the two are directly correlated—our recognition leads to our profession. Once we become more aware of all that God is, we can't help but share with others.

If through grace we receive from our God that which is undeserved (His love, patience, kindness, compassion), then it is through mercy that we don't receive that which is deserved (punishment for our sins).

This benediction combines several different scripture verses, and expresses our hope for you and your families in this new year. We pray that you experience the presence and glory of God in new and transformative ways this year.

Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
- Isaiah 41:10