The Grace of Thanksgiving
(Col 2:6-7)

Thanksgiving is the secret to always live in grace by receiving God's blessing. Believers, who give thanks, are spiritually mature saints. Abundant thanksgiving leads us into a life of God’s grace. Complaints and resentment blocks the grace of God and leads us into a life of despair. Thanksgiving must not be a relative thanks that changes according to the circumstances, but it must be absolute.(1Th 5:16-18) Give thanks in any circumstance and any environment. Then what should we give thanks for?

1. The grace of salvation
The biggest reason why we should give thanks is that we are believing in Jesus Christ as our Savior and experiencing the grace of salvation.(Col 2:6) No matter how much thanks we give in our lifetime, it will never be enough to repay being saved and becoming a child of God by the grace of the cross of Jesus, while we were yet living in sin and transgression.

2. The grace of God's Word
True thanksgiving is possible on the basis of the Word of God. Absolute obedience as mentioned in the Word of God is the true form of thanks. Therefore after we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, we must always listen to the Word of God.(Col 2:7a) Mature believers are those who keep and practice the Word by obeying it. God loved Abraham, although he made many mistakes in life, because he truly obeyed God's Word; even by being willing to offer Him his only son, Isaac.(Ge 22:16-17)

3. The grace of faith
Those who have no faith, do not know how to give thanks. That's because their hearts are always shaken by their circumstances. Those who have true faith, always hold on to the cross of Jesus, standing firm on the Word, and giving thanks to God. Today, God is looking for those who give thanks by faith.

4. The grace of thanksgiving
The better our life and environment are, the more humble we should be; and we should give abundant thanks to God.(Col 2:7c) I hope that you live with abundant thanks by giving thanks in all circumstances.(Col 3:17) When we give overflowing thanks, our life will work for good in the Lord.

I pray that you give thanks for the grace of God's salvation, the Word, and faith in any circumstance.