Give Thanks?

INTRODUCTION

Good evening Church,

Have you ever been so overwhelmed with thanks for something? Maybe someone had done something over the moon for you? Maybe someone stopped you from doing something? Maybe you were hoping for something to happen and things just fell into place for you? 

In this our passage this evening we will see the Apostle Paul challenge the Colossian Christians to have an attitude of thankfulness emanate through all their relationships. This is through everything that they do, everything that they say, through everything that they are.

And as we spend a little time in this scripture. I want you to have in the back of your mind and to be thinking about, “What is it that you are thankful for?” And I hope that this piece of Scripture can help frame this a little as we continue our night and this week where we express our thankfulness.

Point #1 - Peace of God

If you can turn with me to .

English Standard Version Chapter 3

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Pray.

In verse 15 we see Paul tell the Colossians to "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body." And in that to be thankful. 

Paul is telling the believers to let the peace of Christ rule in their hearts, they are being called to peace as members of one body. Peacefulness or tranquility is an attribute that we should be looking for as a believer, especially when it relates to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. These relationships that we've built with one another is something that we should be thankful for. We should express thanks to God for bringing each one of us together, all under his great name. 

So I ask you are you peaceful? Is this an attribute that you strive for? Is it something that defines who you are, especially when considering your brothers and sisters in Christ? If not I would encourage you to seek this out. Today as we spend time considering what we are truly thankful for, spend time thinking about how thankful you are for your fellow beleievers. And how God has used them in your life to bring him Glory. How they may have encouraged you into a deeper relationship with your heavenly father. This is something to be thankful for.

Point #2 - Word of Christ

In verse 16 we the see Paul tell the Colossians, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God". 

Are you thankful for the scriptures? Are you thankful for God's words that can be read by you that direct us to how great he is and how awesome he has been to his people throughout the ages? Paul is telling the Colossians that in their new lives as Christians they are to let these words of Christ dwell richly in their hearts and minds. When they do this these words become who they are, it becomes a permanent part of who they are.

When these words that we read about become part of who we are as believers they flow out naturally thought our speach, through our thinking, through our singing. This natural outflow is joyful praise to the one whom all this is about. 

And I need to mention that we do all this through and in the spirit of God that he provided to each of us. Scripture says in , "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path". It is our tool to direct us, to correct us, to encourage us, to show us how much our great God loves us. 

Praise God for his word to us and I encourage you as you spend time this evening and this week considering how thankful you are to think about how thankful you are for God's word to us. 

Point #3 - How You Live

And then in verse 17 we see Paul sharing that, "and whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him".

Here we see where Paul sums up what he's been saying. In whatever they do, in word through their lips, or in deed through their life, they are to do it in the name of their Lord Jesus. This “In the name” can indicate all that Jesus was, all that he taught, and is an acknowledgment of his role as Saviour of all. And in all of this they were to give thanks to God the father through Jesus Christ.

Folks this is truly where the rubber meets the road folks. I truly believe that this is something that every follower of Christ needs to have as their mantra. That whatever we do, whether in word what we say, and deed, how we live, should be done in the name of Jesus Christ. Who through his great sacrifice for us is most deserving of this. And in all of this we need to give thanks to God through Jesus Christ. 

And so my hope is as we continue with our service and head downstairs for this great meal that we spend time talking with one another and sharing how and why we are thankful to God. What has God done for your lately, how had he delivered you through a difficult time, how had he provided for you in abundance, how has God pour out his love on you? Share these with one another as we share how thankful we are for our great God.