“Giving thanks to the Father.” Colossians 1:12
This column is dedicated to Jim, who insists I mention my grandkids in every column. I try, Jim.
This past week I continued my universe-wide, world-class celebrity tour of elementary school Grandparents Day appearances. Having been to southern Georgia the week before, I ventured to Bradley County—twice—where two of their finest students color their world happy and brilliant. Frankly, Georgia’s celebration was far more humane, providing a mid-day lunch instead of a seven o’clock breakfast…In their favor, I did come home with a brightly colored, laminated poster with one grandkid’s hand over a heart. Very cool.
This column is the last of three on the super-charged prayer of the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:9-14. We’ve seen the encouraging, uplifting, and challenging reality we can know and walk in the will of God and live a life that is pleasing to God. As we do, God will use us in good works, we grow in intimacy with Christ, and we are empowered with God’s strength in the tests of faith. The last inevitable result of a walk pleasing to God in His will is a lifestyle of thanksgiving. This is in stark opposition to a regular problem: complaining (Cf. 1 Corinthians 10). Ouch.
The Apostle focuses on three piercing features of what happened when we turned from trusting ourselves—rejecting Jesus Christ—to trusting in Him alone to give us everlasting life: “…who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
First, God has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints. There is so much to say. We did not earn our inheritance in the presence of Christ but we have graciously been qualified. And, I get to spend eternity with saints like Clarence Grosscup, King David, Paul, and…Jesus.
Second, we are no longer enslaved in a kingdom of darkness. By contrast, we are now citizens of the kingdom of God—the kingdom given by the Father to His specially loved Son, King Jesus Christ. Soon to be fully realized, it’s a place and time engulfed in His pure light, where there is no darkness at all. I can’t wait.
The last highlight of our salvation is truly rich—and great cause for continual thanksgiving: we have been redeemed—purchased out of the marketplace of slavery to sin and its consequences. Redemption’s crowning jewel is forgiveness of our sins. May this never become ordinary.
Thanksgiving isn’t just sixty-four days away. It is every day.
In the world, hands can symbolize many things including confidence and arrogance. Of course, in worship raised hands can picture volumes of spiritual expression. For our daily walk, I like the picture of our hand over our heart in devotion and thanksgiving for the immeasurable gift of salvation through God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
The Rhea Herald-News, September 23, 2015
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