Thankful in Christ

Hey, well, good morning.

Open up your Bibles, if you would, please, to Colossians chapter 3.

Colossians 3 · chapter mention

Colossians 3, we're going to cover three verses today.

Verses 15, 16, and 17.

And I want to just read this for us as an introduction,

and then we'll jump into our passage.

It says this,

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.

Again, Colossians chapter 3, verse 15.

Colossians 3:15

If you're using the Pew Bible, it's on page 984.

Okay, let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

to which indeed you were called in one body,

and be, what church?

Thankful.

Verse 16.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,

teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,

singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with, what church?

Thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Verse 17.

And whatever you do, in word or deed,

do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving, what church?

Thanks to God the Father through him.

Well, what a fitting passage for this month.

We're going to kind of designate this as kind of our month of thanks.

October was kind of our month of prayer.

This is our month of thanks.

We want to just remember the significance of thanksgiving.

And a way that we're going to do that,

we're going to do that in two different ways.

First, we're going to bring to you,

kind of by way of video,

a thanksgiving message from one of our missionaries

to remind us of the importance of thanks

and to call our attention to something specific

from our missionary that we can be thankful for.

We can join them in thanks.

We can pray with them in thanksgiving.

The second is at the end of this month,

this month of thanksgiving,

we're going to have a thanksgiving offering.

We're going to call it maybe a harvest offering.

And we want to invite you.

We're going to let you know some specific ways

that you can contribute in giving to our missionaries

to help them in a strategic way.

And we're going to invite you to participate with us

in giving thanks through giving thanks

in your giving, financial giving,

to God that now then blesses our missionaries.

So let me just begin.

We'll begin with this little video from the Davises.

Hey, Maranatha.

I just wanted to share with you

some things that we're thankful for.

I was going to have Lindsay join me in this,

but she hasn't been feeling well.

And that just kind of goes into the first thing

we're thankful for,

that even though that there is some sickness

going around in the house right now,

overall we've been much healthier

and able to do a lot more things lately.

So super thankful for that.

Thankful for being able to start

Baylistan Community Church this year in June

and excited for the opportunities

that have come because of that.

Thankful for the purchase of the building

that is really soon here.

The solicitors have been talking to each other forever.

But we're certainly thankful

that all the funding has come in

and even some of the renovation funds

that we're going to need.

So super thankful for that

and thankful for you guys

for contributing to that as well.

Thankful for some of the conversations

we've been able to have with people

that just some of the softening hearts

that are happening that we see

and even opportunities that Lindsay's had

to go into the school

to be able to share the gospel

very clearly and openly.

It's been encouraging.

Recently we were able to get away

with some friends that visited from New York

and certainly thankful for those times

of rest that come.

We're thankful for times as a family

we've been able to just get around

the kitchen table

and while we're eating

just share some of the things

that we're thankful that God allowed us

to have for that day

or just in general.

And those have been sweet times as a family.

Recently Lucy and Ruben

we've been going through

a baptism book together

and they're desiring to get baptized

and so thankful for that.

And yeah just thankful for what God is doing

and allowing even churches like you

to pray for us and support us here.

Certainly thankful for all those things.

So I hope that your November goes well

and that you remember all the things

that God has provided for you guys

and can be thankful for those things.

Thanks.

What a blessing to partner with other missionaries

and I trust that you'll be lifting them up in prayer

and maybe even reaching out

and saying hello to them throughout this month

and letting them know that you're praying for them.

You're thankful for God's work in their lives.

So if you're there with me in Colossians chapter 3

Colossians 3 · chapter mention

we're just going to take this a piece at a time

and we're going to try to

this is an experiment this morning.

Okay.

We're going to

it says in verse 16

that we're to teach

and admonish one another

with singing.

Okay.

Now I'm not going to sing the message.

I will spare you from that.

But we will sing together

as we're working through this passage

and try to build these truths

and remind ourselves

of the truths from the word of God

that inform our hearts

and this will be a prayer for us.

I trust this will be an exhortation

for you in instructing and encouraging others.

So let's see how this goes.

The first command

there are three commands in this passage.

The first command is found in verse 15.

It says this

and let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts

to which indeed you were called in one body

and be thankful.

Help me fill in that first blank.

What does it say?

Let the peace of Christ rule.

Great.

You guys are all stars.

Fantastic.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart.

We find in these three verses

some very specific instruction.

The Apostle Paul is interested in a church

that is healthy,

that is vibrant,

that is active,

that is demonstrating

that they share life with Christ

and Christ shares life with them

and each command that we look at here

is reinforced and undergirded

by this spirit,

this heart of thankfulness.

Thankfulness.

Now in three different verses,

three different times,

you think the Apostle Paul thinks about

your thankfulness.

You better believe he does.

Thankfulness will be the hallmark of this church.

It will be kind of the crowning jewel of this church

and we're going to see that

as we move our way through this.

But this opening command,

let the peace of Christ rule.

What comes to your mind when you hear that command?

Let the peace of Christ rule.

Well maybe you think about rest.

Maybe you think about the absence of turmoil.

Maybe you think about a heart that has been able to escape

the chaos of life somehow.

But the truth is that that is not our experience so often.

We're given this command,

let the peace of Christ rule.

But the reality is that we don't experience the peace

nearly as much as we'd like to.

There's this anxiety in our hearts.

There's this frustration that wells up.

There is this fear of circumstances.

There is this anger at something.

And the peace seems so elusive.

How could Paul issue such a definitive command?

Let the peace of Christ rule.

Like as if we can just flip the switch

and now all of a sudden,

shazam, peace.

Ha ha!

I got it.

Wouldn't that be great?

What is going on here?

What's important for us to understand

as we work through this passage is

that peace is there,

but there's something that must happen in our hearts

in order to enjoy the peace that's present there.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart.

Consider for a moment who is writing this.

What do we know about the Apostle Paul

and his experience?

We know that the Apostle Paul,

in the time of the writing of this verse,

is in prison.

He is in a Roman jail.

And he has been beat to a bloody pulp

through the course of his ministry.

We could read that.

We don't have time for it this morning.

You know how it goes.

Five times he was whipped.

Three times he was beaten with rods.

He was a night and a day in the sea.

He dangers wherever he goes.

He is being chased by difficulties.

And yet, it is the Apostle Paul

who issues this command,

let the peace of Christ rule in your heart.

Peace that seems so elusive to us

and should have been absolutely gone

for the Apostle Paul is present.

And he wants us to enjoy that same peace.

Well, there are some things that we can learn

about this peace.

And there are just three simple truths

that I want to draw out.

First, I want you to understand

that this peace belongs to Christ.

This peace belongs to Christ.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.

It's not a peace, by the way,

that you bring to the table.

It's not a peace that belongs to you.

It's a peace that doesn't come from you.

It's a peace that belongs to Christ,

belongs to Christ,

and has been distributed to us to enjoy.

It's a peace that belongs to him.

Second, it's a peace that's meant to rule in your hearts.

And what I love about this passage

in verses 15 all the way to verse 17,

you see all of these plurals,

these hearts,

this use of the word you,

which is a second person plural.

And so while there's this collective body,

this group of people,

they're all enjoying it together.

Their hearts are unified in peace

because it's a peace that belongs to Christ.

Singular, his peace.

Singular, belongs to him,

distributed to the body.

This group of hearts,

unified together in peace.

Third, it's a peace that is already present.

It's a peace that's already present.

And like, Andrew, what are you talking about?

Well, notice it says,

let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.

He does not say pray for peace.

He doesn't say strive for peace.

He doesn't say go and obtain peace.

He says, let it rule.

It's already there.

It's already present.

Just let it have its way.

Let it officiate your heart.

That's the word for rule.

Let it be the officiator,

the umpire of your life.

Let it call the shots.

Let it have its way.

Remember Christ's words to the apostles

when Jesus says this in John 14, 26.

He says,

The helper,

The Holy Spirit,

whom the Father will send in my name,

he will teach you all things

and bring to your remembrance

all things I have said to you.

Well, what did the Spirit instruct?

What's the Holy Spirit going to do?

Verse 27 says this,

Peace I leave with you.

My peace I give to you.

Not as the world gives do I give to you.

Let not your heart be troubled,

neither let it be afraid.

If you, by faith,

have accepted Jesus as your Savior,

if you have placed your faith in Him,

God through His gracious gift

has given to you

His Holy Spirit.

His Spirit of peace

rests in you.

Let the Spirit of peace

have its way.

We will learn about this

peace of Christ

enabled by the Spirit

throughout the New Testament.

But it's the kind of peace

that we can experience individually.

But notice,

it's to which you are called

in one body.

It's meant to be enjoyed

as a body corporately.

So you need to ask yourself

the question,

is the peace of Christ

reigning in your life?

Are you experiencing

God's peace today?

Does that peace of Christ

draw you together?

Or is it the kind of life

that you see

is pushing you apart?

You see,

the peace that God

has given to you

is meant to

pull us together.

It's that unity

of the Spirit

in the bond

of peace

that we find

in Ephesians chapter 4.

Ephesians 4 · chapter mention

And how do we know

if that peace is present?

How do we know

that peace is present?

Well, you know

because it always

produces

thanksgiving.

It always produces

thanksgiving.

and be thankful,

Paul says.

This was the

continuing expression

of the Apostle Paul

and we could touch

on every single one

of the letters

that the Apostle Paul

wrote where he says,

I thank God for you,

Corinth.

I thank God for you,

Galatia.

I thank God for you,

Philippi.

I thank God for you,

Rome.

All of the churches

that the Apostle Paul

is thankful for,

it was an expression

of the work

of God

in his life.

So what does it mean

when we're not

choosing thanks?

What does that mean

when we say,

no, I'm not going

to be thankful?

Well, if we

aren't choosing

thankfulness,

then you're not

allowing the peace

of God to rule

in your heart.

You're not going

to enjoy God's peace.

And if you

aren't allowing

thankfulness

to clothe

your life,

not only are you

not going to

experience the peace

of God,

but you're not

allowing the Holy

Spirit to have

his way in your

life.

And there's one

of two options

there.

Either you're

quenching the

Holy Spirit,

or you don't

have the Holy

Spirit.

Those are the

two options.

Are we allowing

the peace of

Christ to reign

in our life?

You know,

the Apostle Paul,

excuse me,

the psalmist,

talks about the

significance of

peace.

And I love how

the psalmist puts

it, David,

he says,

when he's feeling

anxious, he says,

why so downcast,

oh my soul?

Put your hope

in God.

And so this song

that we're going

to sing now is

that prayer for

us, a prayer

to say,

Lord, I want

your peace to

reign in my

life.

I want my soul

to enjoy rest.

So, be still,

my soul.

Let's sing this

together.

Sing together.

Be still, my soul,

the Lord is on

my side.

Bear patiently,

the cross

agree for pain.

Leave to

thy God,

to order and

provide.

In every change,

he faithful will

remain.

Be still, my soul,

thy best,

thy heavenly

plan.

Through

thorny ways,

leads to a

joyful

wind.

be still,

my soul,

thy God,

the thunder

day,

to guide

the future

as he has

the past.

Thy hope,

thy confidence,

let nothing

shake.

All now,

mysterious,

shall be

bright at last.

Be still,

my soul,

the waves

of winds

to blow,

his voice

who ruled

while he

dwelt below.

In

who I

rest,

in

who I

found

thy hope,

in

I

trust,

you

never

let me

go.

I

place

my

life

within

your

hands

alone.

Be

still,

my soul.

And of

course,

we can pray

that because

there's a

source of

peace.

peace.

The God

of peace

will be

with you.

Christ

desires

for us

to enjoy

the benefits

of peace.

And that's

what this

next song

will help

to direct

our attention

to.

Are you

weary?

Have you

laden?

Come and

lay your

burdens

down.

Jesus

calls you,

Jesus

draws you,

rest in

hand.

He is

gentle,

he is

lowly,

he delights

to bring

us

peace.

Tender

shepherd,

mighty

Savior,

rest in

him.

Are you

hopeless?

Are you

hopeless?

Are you

guilty?

God,

in shame

for all

your sin,

he pursues

you to

forgive you,

rest in

him.

He has

paid for

every

failure,

mercy

flows

in

endless

streams,

come and

follow,

freedom

calls you,

rest in

him.

Are you

waiting

in your

sorrow

for this

broken

world to

live?

He is

coming,

soon

returning,

rest in

him.

We will see

him,

we will see

him,

we will

love him,

oh,

what

hides

of grace

we're

in,

from his

kindness

every

promise

will

fulfill.

Trust in

Jesus,

trust in

Jesus,

he will

keep us

to the

end.

How sure

his compassion

for us,

oh,

how deep

is his

love,

so come,

come to

Jesus

at

rest,

amen.

There is

real rest

that we can

enjoy in

Jesus.

So let the

peace of

Christ rule

in your

hearts,

and next

we see,

let the

word of

Christ

dwell in

you

richly.

Verse 16

says this,

let the

word of

Christ

dwell in

you

richly,

teaching

and admonishing

one another

in all

wisdom,

singing

songs and

hymns and

spiritual songs

with thankfulness

in your

hearts

to God.

This word

for dwell,

to dwell

in you

richly,

is not a

normal word

for dwell

in the

New Testament.

It's a

compound word.

It's the

word in

and then

the word

house.

So in

the house

really means

to feel

at home,

to feel

at home,

to not be

a guest,

to not be

a stranger,

to not just

pop in

once in a

while,

but to be

a permanent

resident,

a part of

the family,

to be at

home.

You know

how that

is.

There are

those places

that you

go and

it's like,

ah,

I finally

feel home.

I'm at

home.

And that's

how God

wants us

to experience

the word.

The word

of Christ

will have

that in

home kind

of feel,

that it's

the kind

of word

that we

feel

comfortable

with.

And there

is this

sense in

which we

enjoy the

benefits of

that assurance

that Christ

is there.

Charles Spurgeon

said of

John Bunyan,

he says,

if you

prick him

anywhere,

you will

find that

his blood

is

bibline.

The very

essence of

the Bible

flows from

him.

He was

filled up

with the

word of

God.

And so

that when

he was

pricked,

what flowed

out was

blood.

The

bibline

part of

blood,

the very

essence of

the word

of God

flowed from

him.

The same

is true

for us.

When you're

bumped,

when you're

agitated,

when someone

kind of

bumps into

you,

as it

were,

what spills

out of

that glass?

What spills

out of

that life?

What spills

out will be

an indication

of what was

in your

life.

And what

flows out

of your

life,

which,

by the

way,

and to

my shame,

what flows

out of my

life so

many times

is frustration

and anger

and irritation.

But what

should flow

out,

if the

word of

God is

there,

is

thanksgiving.

These words

of faith,

these words

of confidence

in what

Christ has

done,

that when

there is

agitation

and when

there is

frustration

and when

there is

the bumping

as it

were,

that what

flows out

of us

is what

we put

in is

the word

of God.

I love

how the

psalmist

puts this

throughout

Psalm 119,

here is

just a

sampling

of some

of the

instruction.

He says,

in the

ways of

your

testimony,

I delight

as much

as in

all riches.

I will

delight in

your statutes.

I will

not forget

your word.

My soul

is consumed

with longing.

I love

that.

Consumed

with longing

for your

rules at

all times.

Your

testimonies

are my

delight.

They are

my counselors.

For I

find my

delight

in your

commandments,

which I

love.

Do you

love the

word of

God?

Is it

your delight?

Is it

the word

of God

that you

seek to

put into

your life?

Notice

in our

passage,

Colossians

3.15

says,

let the

peace of

Christ

rule in

your,

what

church?

Hearts.

And then

he repeats

this in

verse 16,

let the

word of

Christ

dwell in

your

hearts.

Why?

It's

because

this is

not about

going

through

the

motions.

It's

not about

doing what

you're

supposed to

do because

you're

supposed to

do it.

And that's

important for

us to

do.

But it's

doing it

because you're

driven by

love for

Jesus.

It's in

your heart.

God has

transformed

you from

the inside.

You see,

the externals

can be

manufactured.

The inside

is what

God really

cares about.

Man looks

on the

outward

appearance,

but God

looks on

the heart.

And Christ's

strongest

rebuke,

remember,

was to

the Pharisees.

Why?

Not because

they weren't

doing the

right things,

but because

they were

whitewashed

tombs.

They were

those who

were clean

on the

outside,

but the

real life,

the life

deep down

inside,

was full

of dead

men's

bones.

It was

dead.

It was

lifeless.

Does the

word of

Christ dwell

in your

hearts?

Do you

love the

word of

God?

Do you

delight in

it?

Are you

longing for

the word

of God

to inform

your mind

and to

instruct

your heart

and to

move you

in the

direction

of love

for Jesus?

It leads

to learning.

Learning that

comes through

teaching and

admonition,

but notice

that this

teaching and

admonition

is happening

through the

context or

the conduit

of singing.

So often,

the singing

is kind of

the outflow

of a heart

that is

intertwined

not just

with the

truth of

God,

but with

thanksgiving,

and it just

kind of comes

out in song.

Notice

this inflow

of the

word leads

to outflow

of the

word.

This

outflow

of singing,

this outflow

of teaching,

this outflow

of admonition.

See,

we can talk

a good game.

We can even

spend hours

in the word

of God.

We can fill

up our minds

with all the

information,

and it will

do nothing

about changing

our heart.

But the

word of

Christ is

supposed to

dwell in

us,

which means

it's meant

to change

us.

So how

do you

know?

How do you

know the

word of

God is

dwelling in

your heart?

Well,

there is

one telltale

sign.

What do

you think

it is?

Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving.

Ephesians

Ephesians 5:20

chapter 5,

verse 20,

it says,

giving thanks

always for

all things to

God the

Father in

the name

of our

Lord Jesus

Christ.

See,

it's easy

to be

irritable,

it's easy

to focus

on the

negative,

it's easy

to be

frustrated,

but what

helps our

hearts to

tune them

in the

right way

and to

cultivate a

life of

praise to

God is

to be

those who

choose

thankfulness.

And I

love how

Paul puts

this.

Not just

to be

thankful for

something,

but to be

thankful in

something.

thankfulness

in your

heart to

God.

Of course,

the Apostle

Paul gives

us so many

great examples

of this.

He gives

us this

example of

being in

Philippi,

you remember?

And he's

taught the

word of

God,

and he's

had the

opportunity

to lead

Lydia to

Christ and

her family

to Christ.

And then

because of

the troubles

that happen,

the people

from Philippi

come and

they put him

in jail,

right?

They put him

in jail,

they beat

him with

rods,

and there

he is,

he's in

stocks,

he's

uncomfortable,

and what

does he

and Silas

do?

They sing.

They're

thankful.

And through

their thankfulness

and through

their singing,

the Spirit's

power erupts.

Earthquake

comes,

doors,

prison doors

opened,

and a

prison cell

that is now

available to

the Apostle

Paul,

and what

does he

do?

He shares

Christ with

the jailer,

and the

jailer and

his entire

family come

to faith in

Christ.

Is our

life marked

by the

word of

God?

Is it

marked with

thanksgiving?

This next

song helps

us to,

it's kind

of a

prayer.

God,

do this

for me.

Allow

your word

to have

its way

in my

life.

Let me

not just

know the

truths,

but let

me live

them out.

Speak,

O Lord,

as we

come to

you,

to receive

the food

of your

holy

word.

Take

your

truth,

love.

Let it

deep in

us,

shape and

fashion us,

in your

lightness,

that the

light of

Christ

might be

seen

today,

in our

acts of

love,

and our

deeds of

faith.

speak,

speak,

O Lord,

and fulfill

in us

all your

purposes

for your

glory.

Speak,

O Lord,

and renew

our

might.

Help us

fresh the

heights of

your plans

for us.

Truths

are

changed from

the dawn

of time

that will

let you

down

through

eternity,

and by

grace

will stand

on your

promises,

and by

faith

we'll

walk

as you

walk

with

us.

Speak,

O Lord,

till your

church

is built

and the

earth

is filled

with

your

glory.

A psalm

that's

familiar

probably

to all

of you

is Psalm

119,

105.

It says,

Thy word

is a lamp

to my

feet

and a

light

to my

path.

Let's

just sing

that simple

chorus

together.

Thy

word

is a

lamp

to my

feet

and a

light

unto

my

path.

Thy

word

is a

lamp

to

my

feet

and a

light

unto

my

breath.

And of

course,

the word

of God

isn't just

something that

is there

and not

present.

It's a

word of God

that we

need to

continue to

remind

ourselves

of and

it reminds

us of

the work

of Christ,

his beauty,

the need

that we

have for

him.

And so

let's sing

this simple

chorus,

Lord,

I need

you.

Lord,

I need

you.

Oh,

I need

you.

Every

hour

hour I

need

you.

My

one

defense,

my

righteousness,

oh God,

how I

need

you.

Lord,

I need

you.

Oh,

I need

you.

Every

hour I

need

you.

My

one

defense,

my

righteousness,

oh God,

how I

need

you.

So let the

peace of Christ

rule in your

heart.

Let the

word of

Christ dwell

in your

heart.

Now this

one,

this is a

little different.

Let the

beauty of

Christ show.

Let the

beauty of

Christ show.

Well,

Andrew,

where in

the world

are you

getting

that?

Well,

I get

that from

verse 17.

It says

this,

whatever

you do

in word

or deed,

do

everything

in the

name of

the Lord

Jesus,

giving

thanks to

God the

Father

through

him.

Well,

what does

that sound

like?

You're

doing

everything in

the name

of the

Lord Jesus

Christ.

Why?

Because you

want to

glorify

him.

You want

his beauty

to show.

You want

the tenor

of your

life,

the conversation

of your

life,

the actions

of your

life to

show him

to draw

attention

to his

beauty,

his wonder,

his glory,

his majesty.

Of course,

it's reminiscent

of 1 Corinthians

10 31,

whether

therefore you

eat or

drink or

whatever you

do,

do all

to the

glory of

God.

You see,

there's

beauty

and purity

and a

radiance

about those

who love

Jesus.

Have you

given much

thought

to who

you represent

in the

world?

During the

day,

does it

ever cross

your mind,

how would

God

think of

this?

Or how

your attitude

or action

or statement

affect the

way people

think about

the Lord

Jesus?

You know,

our identity

is locked

up in

him.

Whatever you

do in

word or

deed,

do everything

in the

name of

Jesus.

You are

bound to

him and

what you

do reflects

who he

is.

And my

wife and

I celebrated

28 years

of marriage

and we've

had some

opportunities

over the

last few

months to

go to

some

weddings.

And those

of you who

have ever

been to

a wedding

will know

that there

is this

moment,

this moment

that happens

where somebody

walks in the

back.

Who is that?

The bride,

yes.

And she

walks in the

back.

It's my

favorite moment

of every

single wedding

because you

know what I

do?

I want to

see what

the groom

thinks about

the bride.

It's just

that.

It's an

amazing

moment.

Preparation

in weddings,

you know,

preparation

takes months,

happens months

in advance

where the

future bride

will think

about her

shoes,

she'll think

about the

dress she's

going to

wear,

she thinks

about the

kind of

jewelry

that he's

going to

like,

she considers

her appearance,

she gives

great attention

to her hair,

she might

even get a

manicure or

a pedicure,

she may

spend a few

extra hours

at the gym,

but every

decision she

makes is

guided by

one thought.

What does

he think

about my

beauty?

Does he

like my hair

better this

way or that

way?

What jewelry

will accent

my beauty?

What perfume

will he

compliment?

And she might

look radiant

on her wedding

day to

everybody else

in the room,

but she only

cares about

one person.

She cares

about him.

What does

he think

about my

beauty?

You see,

Christ is

also preparing

for his

bride.

We find

that in

Ephesians

Ephesians 5:25–27

chapter 5

verses 25

to 27

it says,

Christ loved

the church

and gave

himself up

for her

that he

might

sanctify

her,

having

cleansed

her by

the washing

of the

water

with the

word.

Why?

So that

he might

present the

church to

himself in

splendor

without

spot or

wrinkle or

any such

thing that

she might

be holy

and without

blemish.

She looks

beautiful.

She's

radiant.

Does the

beauty of

Christ show

through your

life?

Is the

beauty of

Christ radiant

in your

life?

You see,

Christ is

interested in

the beauty of

his bride.

So what did

he do?

He deposited

his beauty

into her,

his righteousness,

his purity,

his nature,

his truth,

because he

wants so

much for

his bride

to reflect

his beauty.

This is now

the third

time in

three short

verses that

the apostle

Paul has

drawn attention

to thanks.

He says,

do everything

in the name

of the Lord

Jesus,

giving thanks

to God

the Father

through

him.

This

giving

thanks is

this word

that talks

about this

perpetual,

continual

activity of

thanks that

marks our

life.

Here Paul

puts it

positively,

but in

Philippians he

puts it

negatively.

In chapter

2 verse 14

when he says,

do all things

without

complaining and

disputing.

Why?

So that you

may become

blameless and

pure.

children of

God without

fault in

the midst

of a

crooked and

perverse

generation

among whom

you shine

as lights

in the

world.

You see,

our expression

of thanks

seals our

holiness.

Our expression

of thanks

seals our

holiness.

It's the

crowning

jewel on

a life of