Thank You, Lord!

INTRO.- ILL.- I am reminded of the story about the two boys who came to the breakfast table. The mother asked her first son, "What would you like for breakfast?" He said, "I want some of those blankety-blank, Post Toasties." His mother just hauled off, backhanded him and knocked him into the floor. To her second son she asked, "And what would you like for breakfast?" He said, "I don’t know but I sure don’t want any Post Toasties!"

Where have our manners gone? I think in some cases they’ve gone out the window, so to speak. Don’t people ever say "thank you" any more? And how about "please," "You’re welcome," and even "God bless you." Of course, we can’t expect the non-Christian public to say "God bless you," but other forms of politeness should be evident and expected.

ILL.- I have opened doors for people going into the mall and other places, only to be passed by like I wasn’t even standing there. Not a word of thanks came from their lips. I don’t open doors just so people can say "thank you." I open them to be polite, which is something my parents tried to teach me to be and to do. And most of you were taught the same.

ILL.- Nearly 70 percent questioned in an Associated Press-Ipsos poll said people are ruder than they were 20 or 30 years ago. Peggy Newfield, founder and president of Personal Best, said the generation that came of age in the times-a-changin’ 1960s and 1970s are now parents who don’t stress the importance of manners, such as opening a door for a female. A whopping 93 percent in the AP-Ipsos poll faulted parents for failing to teach their children well.

ILL.- Here is what an ABC News 20/20 survey discovered about rudeness or rude behavior in America. This survey is what Americans are saying about various forms of bad behavior in others.

Making Annoying Cell Phone Calls 87%

Being Rude and Disrespectful 84%

Using Bad Language 80%

Using Words Like B.S. and Freaking 77%

Using Cell phones in Mid-Conversation 74%

This survey is saying that about 80 percent of the time people are seeing these various forms of bad behavior or rudeness.

If bad manners and rudeness are problems in America, what can we do about them? 1- Set a proper example for our children. Example is still probably the form of teaching there is. 2- Teach our children proper manners and discipline them for rudeness. 3- Slow down in life. Be courteous. Realize that rudeness is a poor witness for Christ. When we’re in a hurry it says we are only concerned about ourselves and we don’t care about others.

Not only are we guilty of rudeness toward people, but also toward God! How so? By failing to slow down and acknowledge Him daily. By failing to show proper gratitude. By failing to say "thank you" and give Him praise. If anyone ever deserved respect and gratitude, it’s our God!

If we ever felt insulted by people’s rudeness, how do you think God must feel about our rudeness and ingratitude toward Him?

Let’s think about the courtesy, the praise, the worship, etc. that we owe our Creator, God and Father. Can we ever praise Him enough? I don’t think so.

PROP.- Our text in Psalm 8 reveals some things for which we should give thanks.

1- Thank you, Lord, for your majesty

2- Thank you, Lord, for your children

3- Thank you, Lord, for your rulership

I. THANK YOU, LORD, FOR YOUR MAJESTY

1 "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place..." How majestic is your name.

II Pet. 1:16-17 "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

The apostles were eyewitness of the majesty of Jesus. When did that happen? At His transfiguration.

Matthew 17:1-2 "After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light."

What a sight that would have been? We can’t even begin to understand how magnificent a sight it was/he was. The apostles were privileged to see the Lord in His majesty, which came from the Majestic Glory Himself, meaning God the Father. Jesus got His glory, His majesty from His Father. And what glory and majesty it was!