And be thankful.
Summary: When Paul tells us to be thankful, it is easy to misunderstand his message. While there are many reasons to thank God in our daily lives, Paul’s list of eight reasons to be thankful helps us focus on what is really important.
In addition to all the things Paul has listed, clothing ourselves with virtues and letting the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, he adds this: “And be thankful.”
Thankful for what?
Looking back over the past few verses, Paul drops several clues that speak to this question.
Going back to the beginning of chapter three, we find the first one — “you have been raised with Christ.” (Verse 1)
Being “raised with Christ” is a Big Deal. This is the key to eternal life. Without new life in Christ, we are left without hope.
Which brings us to the second clue: “For you died … “ (Verse 3)
The “you” in this case is our old self, our sinful nature. This is more complicated to understand because our sinful nature doesn’t die quickly. It lingers, constantly trying to claw us back into obedience to sin. Regardless, we can be thankful its grip on us has been broken.
The third clue is that our lives are now “hidden with Christ in God.” (Verse 3)
What I hear in these words is comfort and security. Nothing can harm someone “hidden with Christ in God.” (It is helpful to remember that our flesh is only a “tent” [2 Corinthians 5:1, 4; 2 Peter 1:13].)
Fourth, God promises that since we are hidden in Christ, we will “appear with him in glory.” (Verse 4)
The image of appearing in glory is something hard for us to imagine, but Jesus gives us a peek into the world of glory when he is transfigured on the mountaintop (Matthew 17:1-3).
The fifth clue is the fact that we have “put on the new self” (Verse 10). We might not fully understand what this means but we experience it each time we rediscover our freedom from sin (the old self).
Finally, the last three clues are the Lord’s forgiveness (verse 13), God’s love (1 John 4:8), and Christ’s rule in our hearts (Verse 15).
Eight clues to answer the question, “Thankful for what?”
Looking over the list, it is easy to see why the Bible reminds us to be thankful; we have a lot to be thankful for!
These are not things you can buy with money. All of the items on Paul’s list only have value if we acknowledge Jesus as Lord. When that happens, suddenly we have a million reasons to be thankful.
Application: Clothe yourself in thankfulness.
Food for Thought: What does it say about us if we are not thankful?
Praise God Jeff, If I wasn’t thankful before, I am certainly thankful right now. What an incredible blessing to wake up to.
What does it say about us if we are not thankful?
Then we have given up on hope. I honestly cannot see how thankfulness and hope are not tied together.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Thanks, Chris!
I agree! Hope and thankfulness are very closely related.
Good thoughts CH. Thank you. I agree that thankfulness and hope are linked.
If I am not thankful, I am taking God’s many blessings for granted and I am out of His will for my life.
1 Thessalonians 5: 16 – 18: Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Thanks, Rich!
You remind me that thankfulness is an attitude that does not stand apart from God’s will or gifts for us.
Sorry I’m late for the party. Great comments Chris and Rich!
What does it say about us if we are not thankful?
Gods Word reveals Truth.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:29
Gods Word reveals, all believers have received Life through Jesus Christ and are now beings set aside in ETERNAL SERVICE in God.
This great honor. Our service in humility, began the moment we became a new creation in God and will never end.
So, our reality has become, do we exchange all we have been temporarily given for all we have been eternally given, or do we decide we want to negotiate this with God? Jesus knows of this quandary and speaks to it in Revelation 2:4.
Revelation 2:4 But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!
Starve the old and feed the new!
Thank you, Ron
The tie-in to Revelation is timely. Well said!