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How often in our lives do we take for granted the benefits of the Lord given to us from day to day. The greater and more the benefits we receive, the more the attitude seems to be that it is our right, and we can even become annoyed if they are taken away. We see that in the workplace where benefits are brought in, in times of prosperity to share the prosperity around, and when things are not so buoyant and there is talk about taking the benefits away, then there is an outcry. “We demand our rights!” is the cry. We must be careful that we do not develop this attitude with our natural blessings and our spiritual blessings given to us daily by our Lord. As the text says, “Bless the Lord”.

The Lord knows the nature of man and how he can be misled. We can read His warning to His people of 3400 years ago, the Jewish Nation in Deuteronomy 6:10-12; where He was about to lead them into the promised land, where He said they would find great and good cities that they did not have to build, they would find houses full of good things that they did not supply, they would find wells of water that they did not dig, vineyards and fruit trees that they did not plant that would bring forth abundance of fruit so that all they had to do was eat. He then gave the warning when He said, “Then beware lest thou forget the Lord”.

God’s benefits are often not noticed as we take them for granted. The stars in the sky – how often do we notice them? If they were to be darkened for a long period of time and then came to light again, every head would then turn skyward and they would be noticed again, and everyone would speak about them again in awe, and wonder and confess them as a creation of God. Often, the only time we notice the benefits of God are when they are withdrawn from us. Then we notice they are not there. That is the time we are prompted back to “Bless the Lord” and ask Him again to restore them to us. We should be thankful that God is love and does not respond in the way of man. If someone came to us and asked us for food, and we saw they were in need of it, we would give it to them – but if we then saw them throw it away before our eyes, would we be prepared to give them more again? We can see how loving our Lord is, and why we should always “Bless Him and never forget all His benefits”, for He is ever ready to bless us despite ourselves.

With our spiritual blessings we must be even more thankful and careful, that we never take them for granted or begin to misuse them. Our greatest blessing is also found in this Psalm 103:3, “Bless the Lord, who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases”. The same principles apply as with our natural blessings. How often do we hear it said that a person only appreciated the peace and blessings they received by attending divine service, only when they were prevented from going for some time? Even worse, as we read Christian history we can read of terrible things which were done being justified with the thoughts that, “I can now go and ask the Lord to forgive me”. We must be very careful we do not misuse these blessings.

The Apostle Paul writes of this with strong words in Hebrews 10:26, “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins”. We can see if we have misused this benefit we must then return again to God in all humility, and again call on His Grace in all God-fearing, as He promised in verse 11 of Psalm 103 – “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him”. Surely this text should inspire us all to be ever aware of it and ponder on it all the days of our lives – “Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all His benefits.”

How often in our lives do we take for granted the benefits of the Lord given to us from day to day. The greater and more the benefits we receive, the more the attitude seems to be that it is our right, and we can even become annoyed if they are taken away. We see that in the workplace where benefits are brought in, in times of prosperity to share the prosperity around, and when things are not so buoyant and there is talk about taking the benefits away, then there is an outcry. “We demand our rights!” is the cry. We must be careful that we do not develop this attitude with our natural blessings and our spiritual blessings given to us daily by our Lord. As the text says, “Bless the Lord”.

The Lord knows the nature of man and how he can be misled. We can read His warning to His people of 3400 years ago, the Jewish Nation in Deuteronomy 6:10-12; where He was about to lead them into the promised land, where He said they would find great and good cities that they did not have to build, they would find houses full of good things that they did not supply, they would find wells of water that they did not dig, vineyards and fruit trees that they did not plant that would bring forth abundance of fruit so that all they had to do was eat. He then gave the warning when He said, “Then beware lest thou forget the Lord”.

God’s benefits are often not noticed as we take them for granted. The stars in the sky – how often do we notice them? If they were to be darkened for a long period of time and then came to light again, every head would then turn skyward and they would be noticed again, and everyone would speak about them again in awe, and wonder and confess them as a creation of God. Often, the only time we notice the benefits of God are when they are withdrawn from us. Then we notice they are not there. That is the time we are prompted back to “Bless the Lord” and ask Him again to restore them to us. We should be thankful that God is love and does not respond in the way of man. If someone came to us and asked us for food, and we saw they were in need of it, we would give it to them – but if we then saw them throw it away before our eyes, would we be prepared to give them more again? We can see how loving our Lord is, and why we should always “Bless Him and never forget all His benefits”, for He is ever ready to bless us despite ourselves.

With our spiritual blessings we must be even more thankful and careful, that we never take them for granted or begin to misuse them. Our greatest blessing is also found in this Psalm 103:3, “Bless the Lord, who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases”. The same principles apply as with our natural blessings. How often do we hear it said that a person only appreciated the peace and blessings they received by attending divine service, only when they were prevented from going for some time? Even worse, as we read Christian history we can read of terrible things which were done being justified with the thoughts that, “I can now go and ask the Lord to forgive me”. We must be very careful we do not misuse these blessings.

The Apostle Paul writes of this with strong words in Hebrews 10:26, “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins”. We can see if we have misused this benefit we must then return again to God in all humility, and again call on His Grace in all God-fearing, as He promised in verse 11 of Psalm 103 – “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him”. Surely this text should inspire us all to be ever aware of it and ponder on it all the days of our lives – “Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all His benefits.”