Colossians 1
We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you. — Colossians 1:3 NKJV

The apostle Paul associated himself with Timothy in giving thanks for the believers at Colosse. It was a practice of the apostle to give thanks for the saints. “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers” (Eph. 1:15-16). Let us thank God for all His people and for His work in their lives (Rom. 1:8).

In Colossians 1:12-14 the apostle gave thanks to the Father for what He has done. Firstly, He “has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” (v.12). We have an inheritance which we will enjoy together, one for which we have already been qualified, and no one can tell us otherwise. Ours is “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven” (1 Pet. 1:4). Already we can have a foretaste of our inheritance because we are “sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance” (Eph. 1:13-14). This is cause for much thanksgiving to our God and Father.

Secondly, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Col. 1:13). The Lord Jesus said to those who had come to arrest Him, “This is your hour, and the power of darkness” (Lk. 22:53). The power of darkness is characteristic of Satan. All who are under his authority are in great danger; they are in his kingdom of darkness.

God rescued us from the power of darkness. We were unable to deliver ourselves, but He “who is rich in mercy” (Eph. 2:4) came to our aid. In rescuing us He has placed us in the kingdom of the Son of His love. This is cause for much thanksgiving to our God and Father.

Thirdly, “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:14). All is in “the Son of His love” (v.13), “in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7).

The holy God has holy demands, which we as sinners could not meet. The holy, spotless, sinless One – the Lord Jesus – in His death has satisfied all God’s righteous claims. He paid it all. “Christ Jesus … gave Himself a ransom” (1 Tim. 2:5-6). Our debt has been paid in full and all our sins have been forgiven. Is this not cause for much thanksgiving?

Colossians 2
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. — Colossians 2:6-7

The Colossians received Christ Jesus the Lord by faith. This is the only way to receive Him. Paul encouraged them to continue their walk by faith: “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). The Lord Jesus wants us to trust Him for everything. Our walk, our manner of life, cannot be separated from Him. We are to “walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him” (Col. 1:10), rooted instead of “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14). We must be built up in Him, which is through the Word of God. “I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up” (Acts 20:32). Walking by faith, rooted, built-up, established and abounding in the faith with thanksgiving is a picture of a Christian who is growing in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus.

Colossians 3
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful … And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” — Colossians 3:15,17

As believers we have the peace of Christ, and we must allow it to rule in our hearts (Jn. 14:27). Whenever there is something out of line with our walk, the peace is disturbed and we must quickly get things right. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9). How thankful we ought to be for such a peace – the peace of Christ. This peace is sure to be enjoyed when the word of Christ is dwelling richly in us. It has been said, “If there is peace in the heart, there will be praise on the lips.”

As Christians we are to do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus. Whatever we do should have His approval. When He was here He did always those things that pleased His Father (2 Pet. 1:17; see Jn. 8:29). If we are doing things to please Him, this will result in thanksgiving to the Father.

Colossians 4
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” — Colossians 4:2

Thanksgiving is generally associated with prayer. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6). In Nehemiah we read of “Mattaniah … the leader who began the thanksgiving with prayer” (11:17). May we delight ourselves in prayer and thanksgiving. We should not only be asking but also careful to be thankful for what we have received.

The apostle Paul encouraged us to have a devoted prayer life with thanksgiving. He wanted us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Th. 5:17) and “not cease to give thanks” (Eph. 1:16). “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Heb. 13:15). May we always be in the attitude of thanksgiving. GT

By Paul Palmer