The person who wrote Psalm 107 repeats a phrase multiple times. He says, “Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” He seems to be amazed at how often people forget to thank God for his goodness and what he does for them.

As you read through the psalm, he gives several examples of people who were in trouble (sometimes because of their own choices) but who turned to the Lord for help. Thankfully, God is merciful and kind to his rebellious creations. The psalm shows how God often bails them out of their situation and how the rescued person is then thankful for what God did.

If only people would recognize God’s goodness today! If only they would recognize the many times and many ways he has taken care of them through the years! Sadly, it often takes a difficult situation to get their attention.

How can we get people to be thankful to God? For those of us who know the Lord, it should be relatively easy. We see what he did for us through Jesus. That always fills our thoughts with thankfulness. But it shouldn’t end there. We ought to be praising God every day for something new. And our thankfulness should point others to God.

For those who don’t know the Lord, it will not come naturally. Thanking God has to begin with knowing and receiving him. So, our duty, as Christians, should be to serve as ambassadors for Christ. As we show our thankfulness and preach the gospel, some will be regenerated and as a result become thankful.