“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:15-17)

C. S. Lewis said, “Gratitude exclaims, very properly, ‘How good of God to give me this.” (C. S. Lewis, “A Mind Awake: An Anthology of C. S. Lewis”, (2003) p.155) The Apostle Paul would tell us what the this is. He would begin with a reminder that Christ has come to give us peace. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” (Romans 5:1-2a) Peter, as he was given the message of God’s acceptance of the Gentiles into the church, said, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” (Acts 10:34-36) Jesus, Himself, said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) Let us be thankful because of the peace of God which will be with us forever.

Paul would also tell us the Good News of Jesus Christ is what God has given us. This message is to fill us abundantly as we dwell upon the meaning of the message. It is also to be abundantly taught to each other with all the wisdom God gives us. The results are to be the music of our hearts and lives. “. . .be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:18-20) The gift of salvation through Jesus Christ is the reason for our Gratitude. We have the Good News, which will always be good news.

God has also changed what we do and what we say. Our actions are to be motivated by our relationship with God. “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence.” (1 John 3:18-19) Jesus said, “You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:14-15) It is through our actions that we say thank you to God for His transformation of our lives.

When we walk with the Living and the Written Word of God, we live our lives with gratitude. This is because of all that God has done and is doing in our lives. Through it all we also have a hope where we will be able to express our gratitude through all eternity. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 100:4-5)

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block