We have differing views of what a good gift is. God is the greatest gift giver. He is the self-sustaining One and therefore is the sustainer of all life itself. The greatest gift He has ever given was the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for the sins of the world. He loves His fallen humanity so much. These are humans that have been given breath from God Himself. He would not have been able to give Jesus for our sins without first making the dust into a living creature with His breath.
Just from this short song, we see that God gives us life, light, hope, restoration, and breath.
So what is our response? What is the most natural response to receiving a priceless, thoughtful, beautiful gift from someone?
Thankfulness. Gratitude. Affection for the gift giver. Satisfaction because you can trust that the gift giver knows you so well.
In the case of God, awe and worship.
In Psalm 33, the psalmist understands that those who are righteous and love God will look at His good gifts and praise Him. "Praise befits the upright." The psalmist thinks back on God creating everything and is brought to praise - and even more, commands others to follow suit.
"Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him!
For He spoke, and it came to be;
He commanded, and it stood firm." (Psalm 33:8-9)
God is so gracious and knows us so deeply that He cannot give us bad gifts. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" Since God is love (1 John 4:16) God only knows how to give good gifts to His children. He has given us life and breath and a beautiful world so that we may experience His grace and kindness.
Be aware of God's good gifts in your life and don't shy away from giving Him praise. From big to small, God deserves praise for all good gifts. From the green grass between your toes to the sun rising in the east God deserves the praise. From the laugh of a baby to the barking of a dog. From the roof over our heads to beautiful Lake Michigan. God is to be praised.
Proclaim God's goodness through this song or through the words of the Doxology
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."
Scripture
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Genesis 2:7
then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
Psalm 145:3
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
1 John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
1 John 4:16
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
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