AND BE YE THANKFUL

How grateful we should be that we are the elect of God, holy and beloved. In His sovereignty God chose us to be holy, sanctified and set apart to Himself. We should be practically what we are positionally; our state should correspond with our standing. As beloved of God we should in return desire to please Him.

Paul calls upon the Colossians to put on various Christian graces as they would put on a garment, and to have a right attitude towards themselves and their brethren. To bear with one another, and to forgive freely, is to be Christ-like. When such an attitude prevails, it engenders unity and warmth of fellowship.

Love is that essential unifying ingredient that should be found permeating all that is said and done, and the peace of God will arbitrate in our hearts. Our words and actions should make for peace and harmony with others. This passage is teaching that if we are in doubt about any course of action that we are considering, we should ask ourselves the question as to whether we will have peace in our heart and mind if we continue.

As we ‘let the word of Christ dwell . . . richly’, as the word of God is allowed to permeate the mind and find expression in an obedient life, then the ‘word of Christ’ will be at home in our hearts. Ephesians chapter 5 verses 18 to 19 stresses the necessity of being filled with the Spirit, while this section here teaches the importance of being filled with God’s word.

The guiding principle by which we may live for God is to be thankful, and to do and say all ‘in the name of the Lord’, v. 17. This equally applies to our prayer life. We should be able to pray for every activity in which we are engaged.

To pray to the Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and also in the Spirit, Phil. 3. 3, is a privilege which is extended to us at any time, anywhere, about anything.