“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in him: rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (vs6-7).
The evidence that we have Christ rightly is thanksgiving: we are SO thankful for what He does for us, so thankful to be saved by Him, that we live for His glory, giving ourselves to preach His gospel and honor His great name.
A thankful and forgiven person is the basis of the good works. Spirit given love, as we see the gospel, motivates us to honor the message. This, more than talk or starting in Christ and growing cold, is the evidence of heart faith and relationship to God.
No man is related to God and unthankful at the same time. No man can look at the forgiveness and inheritance of Christ’s gospel and not ADORE His greatness, if you believe.
Be thankful for what you have in Christ, that all is in Him and freely given, and you’ll live Christian in your life. Take away thankfulness and move into merit, deserving, and earning, and you’ll have pride. Seek blessings by your meditation, prayer, and good deeds, and you’ll have bondage instead of joy… you’ll have Satan and human wisdom, instead of God-given spiritual knowledge - “Beware lest any man spoil you through [love of wisdom] and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the [ways] of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in him“ (Col 2:8-10).
Thankfulness must rule us in prayer, as we ASK for what we need, considering Whom we have to meet our needs, His wisdom, power, and love - “in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus“ (Phil 4:6-7).
Thankfulness is a great command, because you’re told to be thankful for what God has and will do, so that God will do some more. He’ll bring to pass what you thank Him for, even salvation. If you want more, be thankful for what you have in Christ, and He will hear you. Salvation is SO powerful and great that no matter what grief I endure, I have more reason for thankfulness always. I’m spared the wrath of God, going to heaven, and I’ve done nothing to change my condition: it was God’s gift to me freely, and He chose me, while many like me will die eternally in sin - “Giving thanks unto the Father, which has made us able to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:12-14).
Bless God. I hold onto Christ, I believe, I love, I serve, I give, and I take the water of life freely. Thankfulness is saying, “God, you do this for me, and without you, I’d be in hell”. Thankfulness BELIEVES Him and says, “And now, O Lord God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, establish it forever, and do as you have said“ (2 Sam 7:25). Thankfulness honors God immensely, because it declares Him SO good as to save you!
No comments:
Post a Comment