What Are You Thankful For?
By Chris Potts
When posed the question, “What are you thankful for?” God's provision in some form is likely to be the first thing to come to your mind. The list of his provision in your life might include your family, friends, health, freedom, food, or even a place to sleep. Now, if this is the case for you, like it is for most of us, you could use a change in perspective - we all could.
When thinking about Biblical thankfulness, Colossians 1-2 is not a bad place to start. In Colossians 1:3-5, Paul says: “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.”
Paul sets the tone here by stating that he is thankful for the Colossian believers because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Then in chapter 2 he says that because of this faith in Christ Jesus, they should be abounding in thankfulness: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7
When I read these two references to giving thanks in Colossians, I feel the makings of a sandwich. That’s right - it makes me wonder what is being emphasized here between those two pieces of bread. This feeling is heightened when I notice that in 1:3-5 it is Paul giving thanks for faith (that belongs to the Colossians) and in 2:6-7 it is the Colossians who are to be the ones giving thanks for their faith. This all makes me wonder what is in the verses in between!
Well thankfully (see what I did there) we have recently been studying the first 2 chapters of Colossians at Impact, and you may remember that in the middle Paul puts the majestic description of what should be the object of our faith: Jesus.
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.” Colossians 1:15-23
Isn’t it interesting that nowhere in this passage does Paul tell us to be thankful for the things that God provides? He doesn’t tell us to be thankful for our family, friends, health, freedom, food, or a place to sleep. I mean, it is obviously good to be thankful for these things, but they are not at the top of the list. Paul places the focus of thankfulness upon Jesus. Not only that, but he emphasizes Jesus’ role in God’s divine plan to reconcile people to Himself.
How often do we focus our gratitude and thankfulness on Jesus and salvation? I know that I don’t focus on this nearly as much as I focus on saying a quick prayer before eating or thanking God for my family or for the roof over my head. This is a classic case of being more thankful for the gift than of being thankful for the giver.
Take some time to reflect on the passages from Colossians above. Whether you were one of the 24 people who memorized this passage or not, hopefully you were able to meditate on it recently. It is a very foundational passage from the Bible and important for building us up and strengthening our relationships with Jesus.
REFLECTION
Read Colossians 1:15-20. In your Bible highlight or underline everywhere you see a reason to be thankful for Jesus. Turn that into a list.
What is the most meaningful thing to you on the list you just made?
Take some time to pray focusing on Jesus and reasons you are thankful for Him.
Reread the passage and try to say it from memory. Just give it a shot!
Reread the passage and summarize it by rewriting it in your own words focusing on what Paul’s text means.
What is the singular most remarkable part of this passage to you?
What would your life look like if Jesus was the object of your gratitude?