BY ELLEN G. WHITE
will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole
heart; I will show forth all thy marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice
in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou Most High.”
We should ever remember that thanksgiving is the fruit of
true, willing obedience. The Lord is the object of our worship, and to praise
His holy name shows respect for His efficiency. God says, “Whoso offereth praise
glorifieth me.” “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen.” Faith relies upon God as being able and willing to save to
the uttermost all who come to Him. As we speak of God’s power, we show that
we appreciate the love that is so constantly shown us, that we are grateful
for the mercies and favors bestowed on us, and that the whole soul is awakened
to a realization of God’s glory.
The absence of praise and thanksgiving pleases the enemy
of God. The line of demarcation between those who utter the holy name of God
in blasphemy, and those who praise Him with heart and with voice, is clear and
distinct. He who is truly converted will glorify God as he beholds the wonderful
things of His creation, the brightness of the sun, moon, and stars, the changing
beauty of the heavens. To him all nature will declare God’s mighty power. He
will be led to give glory to His holy name.
Isaiah tells us what God is doing for us. “Behold my servant,
whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my Spirit
upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor
lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall
he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth
judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set
judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.”
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for
I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold
thee with the right hand of my righteousness. . . . I the Lord thy God will
hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not,
thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and
thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. . . . When the poor and needy seek water,
and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear
them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high
places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness
a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness
the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in
the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: that they
may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the
Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.”
What greater encouragement and assurance than this could
the Lord give His loyal, commandment-keeping people? Have we not every reason
for changing our attitude toward God? Is it not our duty to show the world that
we appreciate the love of Christ? As we produce the fruit of thanksgiving, we
bear living evidence that by connection with Christ we are placed on vantage
ground. God is the fountain of life and power. He can make the wilderness a
fruitful field for those who keep His commandments; for it is for the glory
of His name to do this. Thus He witnesses to Christianity. He has done for His
chosen people that which should inspire every heart with praise and thanksgiving;
and it grieves Him that so little praise is offered. He desires to have a stronger
expression of praise from His people, showing that they know they have reason
for manifesting joy and gladness.
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This selection is from a Thanksgiving
article published 100 years ago this month in the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald (now the Adventist
Review). Seventh-day Adventists believe that Ellen G. White exercised the
biblical gift of prophecy during more than 70 years of public ministry.
