As we have gone through Colossians 3:15-17 over the past through entries, you may have noticed that I left out one phrase from each verse. Well, today~appropriately enough, we will go back and pick up on those phrases.
In verse 15, the phrase is “…and be thankful.”
In verse 16, “…with gratitude in your hearts to God…”
In verse 17, it is “…giving thanks to God the Father through Him (the name of the Lord Jesus Christ).”
As you recall, these three verses are an admonition for us the keep our heart’s closet clean and fresh by relying on the peace of Christ and the Word of God. We are told to keep in mind that everything we do and say should be for the honor and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each one includes an element of thanksgiving.
Why do you think God led Paul to include the idea of thanksgiving three times in that paragraph? Well, take a moment to go back and reread Colossians 3:1-4~better yet, go ahead and skim through chapter 2 as well. Do you see where these young Colossians believers had come from, and where they would have been, apart from receiving their new life in Christ? Can you think back to where you came from, or could have been, before receiving your new life in Christ? Are you saying, “WOW!”?
That is exactly why Paul reminds us three times in one short paragraph to stop, think, and BE THANKFUL for our new life that has been raised with Christ, that has set our hearts and minds on Godly things from above, and has provided the hope that we will appear with Christ in glory (verses 1-4)! Stop and think for a moment~How awesome is all that!
When we truly have joyful, thankful hearts and choose to express our gratitude to God for His goodness and salvation, we are (sure should be) motivated to change out our heart’s closet (verses 5-9) and proudly, yet humbly, wear the new wardrobe God has for us in verses 12-14.
Thankfulness and gratitude become our motivation!
Let’s look for a moment at the progression of thanksgiving found in verses 15-17.
First, in verse 15, Paul admonishes us to “be thankful”. We must have an attitude of thankfulness. We must recognize the need to be thankful and think about it daily. Remember verses 1-4?
Second, verse 16 encourages us to sing with gratitude in our hearts. This thankful attitude becomes so much a part of us that it spills out of our hearts in the songs that we sing as we go about our day.
Then, in verse 17 Paul frankly commands us to give thanks to God the Father. It is important that we pause and verbally offer our thanks to God in prayer for all He allows us to do and say. (And, as a side note, if we can’t be thankful for it~maybe we shouldn’t be doing it or saying it???-just a thought!)
Here is a final thought to test your attitude of gratitude:
“An attitude of gratitude contributes to an enjoyment of spiritual tranquility, whereas grumbling makes for inner agitation.” (The Bible Knowledge Commentary)
How are your ‘innerds’ today?
Happy Thanksgiving!
Debbie
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