Thanksgiving with the Colossians

It was the church’s annual thanksgiving dinner, and little Ben was asked to pray over the meal.

The church members bowed their heads, and Ben began his prayer, thanking God for all his friends, naming them one by one.

Then he thanked God for Mommy, Daddy, brother, sister, Grandma, Grandpa, all his aunts and uncles, Pastor Wright and Mrs. Wright, their kids, and his Sunday school class.

Then he began thanking God for the food. He prayed a mighty thank-you for the turkey, the dressing, the fruit salads, the cranberry sauces, the pies, even down to the Cool Whip.

Then he paused, and everyone waited. After a long silence, the young boy looked up at his mother and asked, “If I thank God for brussels sprouts, won’t He know I’m lying?”

I hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving even if you had to eat brussels sprouts!

We have much to be thankful for in our lives. I want to focus on a scripture that reveals the advantages we have as believers. Even though we may have struggles, we are still blessed and have so much to be thankful for in our lives.

The scripture for today is found in the letter written by Paul to the Colossian church.

Colosse

The Colossian church in the New Testament was a group of people who lived in a city called Colosse. This city was located in modern day Turkey. In the valley the city was located were two other more populated cities called Hierapolis and Laodicea which were only about 6 miles from each other. Colosse was 12 miles from Laodicea and was considered the least of the three.

Paul wrote a letter to the believers in Colosse because they were experiencing some struggles. Not only did they live in the shadow of these other more successful and prosperous cities, Colosse was filled with people who taught heresy and denied that Jesus was the Son of God. People of that time like to think of themselves as deep thinkers and as great philosophers. The Gospel seemed to simple for them.

The great Apostle Paul wrote to them to encourage them. It seemed that the world may have written off and forgotten these people, but Paul wanted to challenge them to give thanks for all they had been given through Christ.

Let me tell you something today. You might feel like everyone else has the good life and you’re just struggling to survive. Or you might feel as though everyone else is smarter than you are because they are successful and highly educated. What I’m here to tell you today is the same thing that Paul was saying to those marginalized Colossian believers: You are blessed because Jesus is with you! You have a reason to give thanks! Your life has purpose because God loves you. He’s with you. He’s not given up on you. He’s not forgotten you. You have a opportunity today to return your heart and mind to Him and give Him thanks for all He’s done for you.

Let’s read the scripture together:

Colossians 3:15–17 NLT

15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. 16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

What can we learn from these scriptures that teach us that we have a reason to be thankful?

Peace, Position, & Perception

In verse 15 Paul speaks about peace that comes from Christ in our hearts.

Colossians 3:15 (NLT)

15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts...

This is very encouraging. I need to point out something about the peace of God. The peace of God is different than peace with God. When we were saved, we experienced peace with God. As we live and walk in fellowship with Christ, we enjoy the peace of God.

Isn’t that amazing when you really consider it? As our relationship with the Lord grows, we literally become woven together with Him. I know that we are adopted into the family the moment we are saved, but our relationship with the Lord can grow until it seems as if we are one with Him!

John 14:27 CEV

27 I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn’t like the peace that this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid.

Part of being a follower of Jesus is receiving the gift of peace. Gift must be received.

Kristen just received a big package from the company she works for. When she opened it, it had 12 different wrapped gifts. One for each of the 12 days of Christmas. Now, she and I had very different approaches to this box filled with gifts. She wanted to open one each day like the instructions suggested. Me, I wanted her to open them all at once!

To me, gifts are supposed to be opened! The gifts of God don’t have to be opened at a later date. No, they are available right now, but we have to receive them.

This is why our first verse tells us to ALLOW the peace of God to rule in our hearts! This means we are to completely surrender unto that peace. This has the idea of “acting as an umpire, to control, govern, and guide.” When God’s peace controls our lives, we can truly enjoy peace that passes all understanding.

We have peace. We should be thankful.

What else can we see in this scripture? We have a position!

Colossians 3:15 NLT

15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

We are part of the Body of Christ. This must have been especially comforting to the Colossians. They were surrounded by those who scoffed at their faith. They lived in a city that was viewed as inferior to the other surrounding cities. It may have appeared too many that they were outcasts, living beneath the norm of society. Paul encouraged them to lift up their heads and rejoice because they were part of the body of Christ, the living Lord!

We too may feel out of the loop at times. We may be looked down upon and criticized for our faith. The world simply doesn’t understand why we live and behave as we do. We can rejoice for our position in Christ. We may never receive much recognition or respect in this life, but the saved belong to the Lord.

We have an eternal reward!

We have peace, position, and we hav