No matter how good life is at times, we’re typically not thankful for everything that happens. If you’re running late for an appointment and then get a flat tire, it’s not easy to be thankful. Yet, the Bible testifies that in all things, we, as Christians, should be thankful. In Colossians 3:12-15, Paul writes, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Although the word ‘thankful’ is at the end of this verse, it’s not tacked on as an extra. Being thankful is an integral part of the Christian life. If you look up “give thanks” in the ESV bible, there are a total of fifty-nine verses where these words occur together. Forty-five of them are in the Old Testament, with the remaining fourteen in the New Testament. I only point this out to show that thankfulness is part of the very foundation of what it means to be a child of God.
What does the word thankful mean? In Greek, the word denotes appreciation and gratitude. Since Pastor’s Appreciation Month was in October, I can personally attest that this church demonstrates its appreciation well. You do this with words of affirmation, cards, gifts, and yes, even some money. It’s a sign of your gratitude. It would be impossible to be genuinely thankful without gratitude. This means that gratitude must be part of the Christian mindset, fostering thankfulness. Are you grateful for the things God has done in your life? My experience is that we’re grateful for what we think are blessings and not so grateful for what we deem a trial.
Reread Colossians 3:12-15. While you do that, think about what you appreciate about God in those verses. Meditate on why you should be grateful. Do you see the reasons Paul gives? As a Christian, you are chosen. You are holy and beloved. God loves you, and He proved that love by sending you Jesus so that you could receive eternal life. Because of this, you can put on, which means live out, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. You can bear with one another, forgive, and love one another, which all lead to godly peace. And when you have godly peace, you will be thankful. And that thankfulness will be a mindset that people can see. It’s one way to show others the love of Christ.
~ Pastor Mike