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Greetings In Christ Jesus!
As we begin, let me give some connecting background for our message today that I pray will bless us as we prepare to conclude the most challenging year we have experienced In decades!
Being thankful, even though it is a command, it is a suitable and correct response to the immeasurable love that God has displayed and ordered to be preached to all people everywhere. However, being thankful is generally contrary to “normal human response” because we all have a fallen nature, therefore, we have to give constant attention to ourselves in order to cultivate thankfulness as we have been commanded to. The same reasoning must also be applied to praise to God as well, because it does not come naturally to the fallen nature.
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Psalms 100:1 -5 (KJV)
Psa 100:1 A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Psa 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Psa 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Psa 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Psa 100:5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:1 – 20 (KJV)
Col 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
Col 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Col 1:3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
Col 1:4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
Col 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Col 1:6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
Col 1:7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
Col 1:8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Transforming Power Statements:
1) The Psalmist teaches us that all people everywhere should give praise to God for the fact that His creation is wondrous, abundant, complete, and even amazing in that it contains everything we have needed for the lifetimes of all people! What an amazing creation!
2) Paul directs us in his letter to the Church at Colossae to be thankful to the Father, Who has provided His Son Jesus, to correct completely the division caused by Adam’s sin for anyone who believes in Him to the satisfaction of God Almighty, all by Himself!
3) So as we conclude this most unusual year of our lives, let us pray about becoming even more focused on Cultivating The Attitude Of Thankfulness” which can be measured by our responses to all the things of this life, whether good or bad, as we give glory to God for His immeasurable investment in us of His Only-Begotten Son Jesus!