READ IT SLOW: Highlighting points of Guidance in Colossians
PART 2: “Thankfulness”

Colossians (Kol-ah-shuns) is an epistle from the Apostle Paul and Timothy that speaks directly to living after the nature of Jesus Christ. I must emphasize this is not a verse by verse commentary, but rather some thoughts I am offering where I see points of guidance in the text.

I hope it serves you, is edifying, and helps you in bringing honor to the Lord Jesus. Please join me as we read and remember you can leave remarks in the comment section on this page.

Read Slowly. Read with purpose. Don’t rush.
Colossians 1:1-14 (ESV)
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing – as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. 9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

The thankful heart is key to the process in everything Paul is speaking about in this section of Scripture. Thankfulness is the response to God Who bestows His Spirit as a deposit for believers. He has sealed them with the promised hope of glory.

Why is thankfulness important? Don’t rush over this. Why be thankful? Are you thankful?

Luke tells us the story of a time Jesus Christ healed 10 men with leprosy:
Luke 17:11-19
“Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy {12 The Greek word was used for various diseases affecting the skin– not necessarily leprosy.} met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him– and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (NIV)

Thankfulness reveals a soul to be well!

I believe Jesus healed not only the thankful man’s body, but because of his faith, his soul too was made well. What about the other 9? As for the other 9, we are left to wonder about them understanding that Jesus was less than pleased with their thankless response.

One redeemed should say “thank you” manifest in behavior pleasing to his Redeemer. The goal is, in fact as Paul points out, to please Him who has delivered us from the domain of darkness (evil) and transferred us who believe in the Kingdom of Christ. We all are or at one point where spiritual lepers cut off from God’s Kingdom.

With that in mind, let us be thankful to our Redeemer so that we can truly please Him.

BMD