COLOSSIANS 1:9-12 – And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”
THEME OF THE DAY: LIVING WITH THANKSGIVING. Take a little journey back in our lives. Go back before we met Christ and experienced new life in Him. Think on the many contrasts in us before Christ and after Christ. Take time and make a two-column list under those headings. Write down all that we were and loved before Christ, and now what we are and love in Christ. The contrast should move us to rejoice in such amazing grace. But there are two that I hope made it high on our lists.
On the “before Christ” list did the area “Not living thankful” make it? It should because one of the high marks of being an unbeliever is ingratitude and a lack of giving thanks – For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things (Romans 1:21-23). And by nature, we don’t want to give thanks, can’t give thanks, and without a new heart from the Lord won’t give thanks. I look back on my pre-Christ days and I never gave thanks because I didn’t know the God who deserves the giving of thanks. Neither did you.
Now let’s look at our “after Christ” or “in Christ” list. I hope the giving of thanks was top on the list. Why top? Giving thanks is one of the marks of a Christian indwelt by and under the control of God’s Holy Spirit – And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:18-21).
But giving of thanks always identifies us with Christ. Take a tour through the gospel and identify how many times we found the Lord Jesus giving thanks in prayer. I won’t tell you the number, but every Gospel contains at least three references. Some more. Here is one . . . At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children (Matthew 11:25). And Jesus has told us He is an example for us to include living with thanksgiving.
So, Christian, look at the list again – “before Christ” and “after Christ.” Ensure our list “after Christ” includes giving thanks which is one of the clearest pieces of evidence validating we are truly followers of the Lord who is worthy of constant thanksgiving!
PRAYER: “Father, teach me to be thankful in all my life for I have so much to thank You for.”
QUOTE: “One of the marks of being a Christian, filled with the Holy Spirit, is a life lived being thankful.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim