Thanksgiving
Colossians 2:6-7 says, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
Paul was grateful that in the midst of the Roman world’s secular teachings, the believers in Colosse continued to walk in the Lord and the truth that they were taught… Rooted and grounded in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. These believers abounded with Thanksgiving. For what were they thankful? They were thankful for their root and their firm foundation in the faith of the Lord. Jesus said, be like the wise man who built his house on the rock. And when the waves and the storms beat upon the house, the house stood because its foundation was upon the rock. Jesus Christ himself is the firm foundation…he is the rock of ages. He is the chief cornerstone upon which we, the church are built. Unless there is a firm foundation on the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, the house will come crashing down when the storms of life prevail upon it.
How do you define manhood consistent with the firm foundation? Contrary to the truth of the Word, the world’s man-code says that a real man is self sufficient and needs no one else. He is a rugged individualist. His self sufficiency is rooted in himself. The world’s man says, “I win and you lose.” The world’s man leaves a path of destruction when he climbs over lesser men to reach the pinnacle of success. Through the trials of life, he will be wounded, but the world says, whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger…always at the expense of others.
However, God uses trials and tribulations of life to bring a man to repentance…a point of turning from himself and unto God. After woundedness, there is healing, but to be healed we must face reality:
The first reality is that life is hard. Jesus said, In this world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. A man of God’s response to trials and tribulations is different from the world’s response. Jesus said to recompense to no man evil for evil. When the trial comes, in the midst of the trial, tribulation works patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope makes not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us.
The second reality is that I’m not in control. When Pete’s wife was in labor and in distress, the doctor came into the Father’s waiting room and said, “we’re losing the baby’s heartbeat.” Pete desperately prayed, “Please Lord, save my wife and my child.” God’s answer was, “how much control do you have over this situation?” Pete answered, “None.” God’s next question was “no matter the outcome of this situation, will you still honor and serve me?” Pete answered, “Yes Lord, You’re in control and not me. I purpose in my heart to honor and serve you no matter what.” Then the doctor came into the waiting room. He said, “we lost the baby.” Pete and Suzan used this ordeal to come to an understanding that God is Sovreign overall. His thoughts are not our thoughts and his ways are not our ways. Despite the trial, God works together all things for good to those who love him…to those who are called according to his purpose…
The next reality is that it’s not about me. The devil’s original lie to Eve in the Garden of Eden was, “ye shall be as God knowing good and evil.” He appealed to her pride. However, the pride of man goes before a fall. As John the Baptist said, “I must decrease that He may increase.
The fourth reality is that with patience in abiding with Him and within Him, over time we will know by experience the goodness of our Lord. The question is, “do you want to spend the rest of your life learning to become just like Jesus? A sage is a wise and experienced man who knows the love of God and is healthy, strong, and faithful in the truth of the word of God. Abiding in Christ means spending time in the word of God, in prayer, and in fellowship with others in the family of faith.
The final point in Colossians 2:7 says, let your life overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all he has done. The letter to the Colossians starts with grace and peace. Grace is unmerited divine favor by the one who didn’t need to give it to ones who didn’t deserve to receive it. Peace is the result of reconciliation with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 100 is a song of praise and thanksgiving…for the Lord, he alone is worthy of praise. Therefore, make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord, He is God. Many young Christians think that the blessings are what God has given us by his mercy and grace. However, over time he teaches us that the greatest blessing is to bless God. It’s not about us…it’s about Him…that we should be to the praise of the glory of His grace. For It is he that has made us and not we ourselves. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
Our loving Heavenly Father will give us an open heart and will enlighten our spiritual understanding so that we can see him as he is. Despite our fallen nature, God will by his love and grace, through the peace that passes understanding, reconcile us back to him. For there is one God and one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus.
Salvation doesn’t depend on whether we’re good enough. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Therefore be thankful unto him and bless his name.
Paul despite his persecution in a Roman prison said, “I’m poured out as a drink offering to my Lord.” I am poured out as a sweet-smelling fragrance as a prayer to my Lord. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. For those who are saved, it is the fragrance of life unto life. Jesus said, “as ye have received the Lord Jesus Christ, so walk ye in him.”
According to Philemon 1:4-7, “I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.”
We have so much to be thankful for. The conclusion of Psalm 100 says, “For the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth to all generations.”
May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His Grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael