3 Marks of a Grateful Believer

An unlikely Thanksgiving sermon from Paul was preceded by some genuine personal thanks! Sunday we will begin our season of Thanksgiving with the sermon in Chapter 3 but I must note the context of our passage by reminding us all about the setting of the letter. Paul sits in a Roman prison and hears the report from Epaphras about the church in Colossae. Paul writes to the Colossians to remind them of the supremacy of Christ and to help them understand how their position in Christ should change the way they think, speak, relate to others and see the world. While there were several concerns, Paul also writes with spirit of gratitude.

As Paul begins his letter to the Colossians he tells them of his gratitude to God for what has happened among them. The Gospel came to them, they heard and understood it and it has begun bearing fruit in their lives. Paul thanks God that there are followers of Christ in Colossae whose lives bear the fruits of faith, love and hope. This short letter opens with Paul's warmest greetings of thanks and prayers: “We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you” (Col 1:3).

Sunday we will read the sermon Paul gives about how to keep up that kind of gratitude – an inward and outward and upward emphasis. This will be a great start to this Thanksgiving season for you and your family!

Pastor Mike