Last time we read about the story of the five kernels of corn and its history. Now we are going to focus on Psalm 103:3-5 to find the five kernels of thankfulness.
The Kernel of Forgiveness
Verse 3a, “Who forgives all your iniquities,”
Psalm 32:1-5 NCV “Happy is the person whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned. 2 Happy is the person whom the Lord does not consider guilty and in whom there is nothing false. 3 When I kept things to myself, I felt weak deep inside me. I moaned all day long. 4 Day and night you punished me. My strength was gone as in the summer heat. 5 Then I confessed my sins to you and didn’t hide my guilt. I said, “I will confess my sins to the Lord,” and you forgave my guilt.”
Ask yourself what are some sins that might be hindering you of a closer walk with Jesus? Are you harboring critical thoughts? Have you spoken hurtful words? Have you been impatient or unkind? Or have you been lax in keeping the Sabbath holy or unfaithful in returning tithes? Whatever it is we must seek forgiveness.
The Kernel of Healing
Verse 3b: “…who heals all your diseases…”
Who heals all your diseases?
Verse 3 affirms that when healing takes place, through whatever means, it comes from God.
All your diseases include, spiritual, emotional, and physical. God does not promise instant deliverance from all your problems. God will at times use physical trials to bring about our spiritual or emotional healing. How does that work? Through these trials it will deepen our dependance on Him.
Jesus ministered to both the soul and the body. The gospel which He taught was a message of spiritual life and of physical restoration. Deliverance from sin and the healing of disease were linked together.
The Kernel of Redemption
Verse 4a: “Who redeems your life from destruction,”
Psalm 40:2-3 (NLT) “He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. 3 He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.”
It is very possible that all of us have experienced some kind of negative, pit living, and if the Lord has delivered you or redeemed you, then don’t forget to thank Him and praise Him! If you for some reason are still stuck in the pit, why don’t you ask God to lift you out of the pit of despair and give you redemption.
The Kernel of kindness and mercy
Verse 4a: “Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies”
When God redeems you from the pit He tells you to show kindness and mercies to others, especially the ones who are still stuck in their pit.
Ephesians 4:32, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
Kindness is no respecter of persons. Kindness shares with a brother or a sister. Kindness cuts the grass or shovels the snow for an elderly neighbor. Kindness gently warns a friend who is heading in the wrong direction. When someone is discouraged, kindness will offer encouraging words or a helping hand.
But there are some things kindness refuses to do. Kindness won’t gossip. It refuses to cheat. Kindness won’t make fun of others, or insult others.
The Kernel of Satisfaction and Renewal
Verse 5: “Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Contentment is not having everything you want, but wanting everything you have. God has supplied us with all things to enjoy, but our hearts must be right before we can enjoy them. If you aren't happy with the things, you already have, you won't be happy with the new things you receive.
God redeems and rescues us from the pit of despair. He shows us love, mercy, and kindness, which we in turn should show to others. Only God can satisfy our deep desires and only He can renew our strength, so we can grow into Christian maturity. The only way this will happen is if you will give your heart fully to Him.
