Thank You!

                                                                                                       The sign for "thank you" is made by starting with the fingers of your dominant hand near your lips. Your hand should be a "flat hand." Move your hand forward and a bit down in the direction of the person you are thanking. Smile (so they'll know you mean it).                                              

                                                                                  Memory aid:  Imagine blowing a kiss to the person you are thanking. (Don't pucker up -- unless you'd like to get to know him/her better!)
Many of us are familiar with how to say "thank you" in ASL, so why did I put this visual aid and explanation at the beginning of this post?


     That's an excellent question! I'm so glad you asked. The reason these items are here is to remind us of the New Testament  Greek word for worship, "proskuneo." It's literal meaning is "to kiss, to fawn or crouch, to prostrate oneself in homage, or worship." What is implied is a direction, making the meaning "to kiss towards," "to fawn or crouch towards," "To prostrate oneself before the person receiving homage,' or "to worship towards."

     Our worship towards God is, or at least should be, our outpouring of thanksgiving towards Him. Worship is not for us! It is not for our entertainment! It is not for our enjoyment! Worship is our chance to formally and in a holy, prescribed manner, Give Thanks to our Maker, Sustainer, Redeemer and Friend!

     That is what the Hebrew writer is conveying in Hebrews 12:28, when he says, "Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;" (NASB)

     Tomorrow when you pull into the parking lot, or walk into the tent, or however you arrive at your place of worship, I would ask you to remember this post. When you worship God, give Him thanks that He is due.  Let the words of the old song fill your thoughts as you prepare to worship, "Hallelujah, praise Jehovah, for His name alone is High. And His glory is exalted, And His glory is exalted, far above the earth and sky!"

     May God bless us all as we struggle to worship Him correctly, to remember to say thank you, and kiss our lips towards the Almighty when we do so - Robert