Too Good to Keep to Ourselves
 
“Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples!” –Psalm 105:1 (NKJ)
 
Can you remember hearing or experiencing something so good that you just couldn’t stop thinking and talking about it? Peter and John can relate! In Acts 3 they healed a crippled beggar, who “jumped to his feet and began to walk [and] went with them into temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God” (v. 8). As you can imagine, all those who were accustomed to seeing this man begging every day at the temple gate “were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him…and came running to them” (vv. 10-11; read 3:1-4:31).
 
As expected, the religious rulers “were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming…Jesus” (4:2). So, “they seized Peter and John…[and] put them in jail” (v. 3). The next day they were “called to account” for the miracle done in Jesus’ power (v. 9).   Although their very lives were threatened, they continued to courageously proclaim Christ. And since the rulers “could see the man who had been healed standing there with them…[and] everybody living in Jerusalem [knew] they [had] done an outstanding miracle” (vv. 14, 16), all they could do was order“them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” (v. 18).
 
What would you say with your life on the line? Their response is heartening: “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (v. 20).  In other words, their grateful amazement at Jesus and His power was just too good to keep to themselves!
 
In today’s verse and many others, a connection is made between giving thanks to God and letting others know about it. Some have gone as far as to say that unexpressed gratitude is worthless! Not only are we to“give…thanks in the great assembly” of other believers (Ps 35:18), but even among “the nations”—people who may not share our gratitude or revere our God (Ps 105:1). What do we proclaim? As in Acts 4, the psalmist suggests you include “the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced” (v. 5). Who God is and what He’s done is just too good to keep to ourselves!
 
To Do and Discuss: Brainstorm several of God’s wonders, miracles, and judgments in history and your life that you are (or should be!) thankful for. Then pick a person (Christian or not) with whom you could share something you’re grateful to God for this week. Finally, do it!