Thursday, July 24, 2025

            Paul’s letter to the Colossians was sent to a gathering of believers in the city of Colossae—in the ancient area of Asia Minor or what is known as modern-day Turkey. Colossians resembles Ephesians in themes, thoughts and language.  One major difference is the emphasis upon Christ as the head of the Church in Colossians.  The headship of Christ over the Church is featured more prominently in Colossians whereas Ephesians tends to emphasize the Church as the body of Christ.  It is a subtle but strategic difference.
            Because Christ is the head of the Church, there are two important truths that stand out in Colossians 3:15.  It can be easy to miss these truths as we read through Colossians.  But these truths are for us—the body of Christ.  Paul wrote, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Two words in this one verse are important for us even today—peace and thankful.  We possess peace because we know Christ.  He is our peace.  He has made peace between the Father and us through His death at the cross.  He grants us peace in all circumstances and stations in life.  He grants us a peace that surpasses all understanding (see Philippians 4:7).  Peace is independent of where we find ourselves in life. It is not contingent upon anything, good or bad, happening around us.  It is not contingent upon our mood or feelings.  It is a blessing that anchors us.
            We experience peace as we entrust ourselves to the Lord—casting our cares upon the Lord as Peter put it (see 1 Peter 5:7).  Someone once said that those who entrust everything to God’s hands will eventually see God’s hands in everything.  To know that God’s hand is upon us is nothing less than peace.  His hand resting upon us stabilizes and secures us much like an experienced sailor’s hand resting upon the steering wheel of a boat.  Jesus left His disciples to the work of the gospel with the promise that He would be with them always—even to the end of the age.  They were never alone!  And we are not alone either!
            At the end of Colossians 3:15 is the three-word command “and be thankful.”  Paul might have added this almost as an afterthought—God’s people should for certain be thankful and grateful people.  But Paul might have added this as a mandate—to ensure that the people of God, redeemed and made new by Christ, are living in gratitude.  A commitment to practicing gratitude does change us—and for the good.  Living gratefully is a healthy posture.  Our mental, emotional and relational health improves and thrives when thankfulness is the environment in which we live. 
            Gratitude is the language of God’s Kingdom.  We are grateful for this life and even more grateful for the life to come.  We can be thankful for the blessings and provisions of our daily bread just as we look forward to the everlasting bread of life in the world to come.  We can be grateful that Christ paid the price for our sin debt and richly credited to us and gave us His sinless life as our own.  He won this for us through no work or contribution of our own.  The worries and fears of this world and life can be consuming and overwhelming. We counter those things with the language of gratitude—naming and cherishing what God has done for us and given to us.  We can all live in a bilingual way as we speak the languages of peace and gratitude.  Peace lets us live by faith knowing that the results are in God’s hands.  Gratitude lets us live a life of surrender and service because of what God has provided and will continue to grant to us.  Take time to meditate on the words of Colossians 3:15, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”  Have a great Thursday!  Let’s worship the God of peace and provision together this Sunday!