He is worthy of our thanks
by Pastor Tim Klein
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Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory, honour, and power. You created all things, and by your decision they are and were created (Revelation 4:11).
Read Revelation 4:9 – 5:5
It’s Australia Day today. It’s the day we are invited to celebrate all things Australian – slap a prawn on the barbie and slip a lamb roast in the oven. We might go watch a game of tennis or possibly cricket. We might even attend an Australia Day ceremony to witness and congratulate new citizens as they make their commitment to Australian citizenship.
I wrote a song for the Berri Barmera Council Australia Day ceremony that had this chorus:
We are Australians – Australian
Working and playing in this great, great land
We are Australians – Australian
Loving life in Australia.
What a privilege it is to live in Australia.
Let’s turn back to the aged-care service I mentioned earlier in the week. When it came time for prayer, I asked what we might include in our prayers. We had quite a conversation about how blessed we are to live in Australia. In our prayer, we gave thanks to the Lord for the freedom and blessings of life in Australia.
But even as we celebrate our land, Australia, and thank God for it, living creatures praise the Lord around his throne – perpetually.
Yes, it is good for us to celebrate our nation and thank the Lord for all the blessings we enjoy and appreciate. We should never take for granted the freedoms and abundance available to us. But more importantly, we should always remember that all we have, every blessing, and every good thing we enjoy in this place is there by God’s grace. As we read in Revelation 4:10, ‘You created all things, and by your decision they are and were created’.
And so we join with the living creature and elders around the throne of God in giving him who created all things: glory, honour and power.
Dear creating and life-giving Father. We thank and praise you with angels, archangels and all the company of heaven for who you are: our gracious and redeeming God. Keep us always thankful to you for all we enjoy in this life. Keep us ever hopeful for the life with you to come. Amen.
Tim has served as a pastor for over 30 years in Australia and New Zealand and is currently at Faith Warradale in South Australia. Husband to his wife, father of three and grandfather of more than nine. Tim says he is living in hope. He enjoys gardening (especially his orchard of over 60 trees, succulents and flowering plants), making music (he loves to sing), beekeeping and taking photos.
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