AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits….  (Psalm 103:2)

Your attitude determines your altitude.  Among the instruments in the cockpit of a plane is the attitude indicator.  It shows the relationship of the wings to the horizon.  If you want to climb higher, it requires an attitude adjustment.  That is true spiritually, as well.  If we want to soar, we must adjust our attitude according to the heavenly horizon.  If our attitude is set relative to earth’s perspective, then we’ll never take off.  What would happen if we adopted the attitude of gratitude displayed in Psalm 103?

We should be grateful for God’s benefits (v.1-5).  The Psalmist underscores this with the phrase, “forget not all His benefits” (v.2b).  There are so many.

The key benefit is forgiveness of iniquity (v.3a) for it unlocks the door other blessing.  It is the greatest provision for our gravest poverty.

The Great Physician—Jehovah Rapha—heals us body and soul (v.3b).  Someone asks, “Do you believe in divine healing?”  What other kind is there?  There is the guarantee of ultimate healing in the resurrection.

God redeems us (v.4a).  This means we are set free by payment of a price.  Jesus did that on the cross!

The Lord crowns our head (v.4b).  God promises a crowning grace.  The New Testament also teaches there are crowns we may win.  In heaven, we will cast all our crowns at the feet of Jesus recognizing that any crown given is for His glory.

God satisfies our needs (v.5a).  Only He can.  Everything this world offers is like trying to satisfy your thirst by drinking water from the ocean—the more you take in, the thirstier you become.

The Lord renews our strength (v.5b).  As the eagle molts--shedding feathers and gaining new ones so he can continue to soar—we exchange our weakness for God’s power.

Furthermore, we should be grateful for God’s bounty (v.6-10).  The text testifies that God is “abounding in mercy,” (v.8b).  The first stanza of the Psalm is personal and the second one is national.  In verses 1-5, there is a solo, and in v.6-10, the choir adds their voices.

God gives abundant liberty (v.6).  Israel had been oppressed in Egypt, but God set them free.  There are injustices and inequities in this sin-cursed world, but the hope that God may deliver us now, and will assuredly right every wrong in the end.

God bestows abundant life (v.7).  God led and fed His people through the wilderness and brought them into a land flowing with milk and honey.  In a place of barrenness, they had blessedness!  God has pledged to meet all our needs, too.

God grants abundant life (v.8-10).  It takes Him a long time to become angry and a brief time to forgive.  By grace He give us the eternal life we cannot deserve, and in mercy keeps us from the hell we do merit.

Finally, we should be grateful for God’s benevolence (v.11-22).  It is, “So great…So far” (v.11-12).  The song builds to a crescendo—from personal, to national, and now universal—the voice of every creature, terrestrial and celestial, blending their voices in a symphony of praise!

There is extensive mercy (v.11-14).  It is three-dimensional: in height (v.11), breadth (v.12), and depth (v.13-14).

There is enduring mercy (v.15-18).  Here we see a contrast between our frailty and God’s faithfulness.

There is exhaustive mercy (v.19-22).  The word, “all” is used nine times in this Psalm.  

Old Graham Scroggie put it well, “Those whom the Lord blesses should bless the Lord.”

YOU CAN LOSE YOUR CROWN!

 

So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the LORD….  (1 Chronicles 10:13a)

Our salvation for heaven depends on the finished work of Christ.  Redemption comes by faith. Our status in heaven depends on our finishing the work Christ has for us.  Reward comes by faithfulness. You can win a crown—and you can lose it!

On the one hand, we are exhorted to pursue our crown, "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10b)  On the other hand we are encouraged to preserve our crown, "Hold fast what you have, that no one man take your crown." (Revelation 3:11b)

Saul lost his crown.

A chill runs up my spine and a tear wells up in my eye as I consider this horrible possibility, documented in Scripture. I can be just like Saul. I can lose my crown.

He had so much potential. God had blessed Saul with great ability and grand opportunity. His beginning was one of humility and success, as one chosen of God. His ending, however, was one of tragedy and failure, as one cast aside by God. 

You cannot win the crown, if you stumble before the finish line.

There were three temporal losses which Saul experienced on his way to losing his crown.  All the consequences of unfaithfulness may not await eternity.  Many are suffered now.

We observe A DIRECTION THAT WAS UNCLEAR.  Saul had spurned the Word of the Lord so much, that God said, "Have it your way!"  The Lord would not listen to the one who would not listen to him.  In a state of spiritual confusion and utter desperation, he sought a medium for direction.  If you insist on refusing to seek God, and then one day in difficulty, decide to place an emergency call to heaven, God might graciously respond—or He may not.  He is the Almighty God and not to be treated like an ambulance dispatcher!  You can lose your crown!

There was also A DEFEAT THAT WAS UNAVOIDABLE.  Saul had first surrendered to sin, before he suffered defeat on the battlefield.  Having forsaken the Lord, he had no strength to win. The outward loss was inevitable, due to the unseen conquest of his soul, by not heeding his Commander's orders.  We see the fall of some pastor, a fellow church member, someone we had confidence in—beaten down by the devil—and think it a sudden setback.  Seldom, if ever, is that the case.  Behind the scenes, a thousand little private defeats led to the public disgrace.  You can lose your crown!

Then, we note A DEATH THAT WAS UNNECESSARY.  Saul falls on his own sword and takes his life.  His sons, including the good and gracious Jonathan, fall in battle.  Many a soldier had their blood spilled on the ground that day.  Grieving widows and pitiful orphans were the heirs of this defeat.  The effects of our backsliding are never limited to us.  It is true that we will lose our crown, but how many others will we drag down with us?  You can lose your crown, and this can lead others to lose theirs.

Now, I am not talking about losing your salvation, but losing your standing—our relationship is unalterable, but our reward isn't (see 1 Corinthians 3:11-15).  I fully expect to see Saul in heaven one day—without his crown.

Let us pray more earnestly that we would live more faithfully.  Don't lose your crown!