And Jacob said, "Swear to me." So Joseph swore to him. Then Israel bowed [in thanks] at the head of his bed. - Genesis 47:31
When Jacob was approaching the end of his life, he wanted or needed some assurances from his son Joseph. Jacob knew that his descendants would one day return to the land that God had promised them and he wanted Joseph to give him his word that after he died his bones would be buried there. Immediately after Joseph swore to fulfill Jacob's request, Jacob then took a moment to express worshipful thanks to God.
For me, this story raises some very personal questions. Will I, like Jacob at the end of his life, worship God with the same faithfulness as I do know? Or more? What are the keys to a life of faithfulness to God, to a life that worships God all the way to the end? Is there even one?
I'm not sure there is, but I do know that every day, every morning, every hour, every moment I must decide whether or not I will worship the Lord, and perhaps the only attitude that comes close to being the key to a life of worship is a thankful heart. Like Jacob, if you remain thankful, you will most likely continue to worship, so just keep giving thanks.
Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that thankfulness is indeed a virtue. - William Bennett
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