Day Thirty: Colossians 3-4, Philemon

If the primary response that Paul calls for in Philippians is joy, the primary response he calls for in Colossians is thankfulness.  We see this all over the book:

“May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father.” (1.12)

“Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” (2.7)

“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts... And always be thankful.” (3.15)

“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” (3.17)

“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” (4.2)

Here’s a reality: selfishness is natural, thankfulness is a choice.  And it is a choice that must be made again and again.  It is an attitude, a mode of the heart that has to be cultivated.  No one has to teach a kid to be selfish.  What they have to be taught is to be thankful.  Not merely to say thank you, but to truly be thankful.

The gospel tells us that we are more deeply flawed than we could possibly imagine.  And yet, in Christ we are loved more deeply than we could possibly dream.

If you think God owes you something, then you will live with a sense of entitlement.  But if you see the gospel and the fact that all God owes you is judgment, and then you see that instead of judgment you receive mercy, you will live with a sense of thankfulness.

Where is your focus?  Is it on the stuff you aren’t, the stuff that you don’t have?  If you compare yourself to other people, there will always be people with more, and you will always feel empty and incomplete.  

But if you realize that you deserve nothing, you will approach your life with a grateful joy, a holy greed to take the years that are given to you and to spend them well.  

Think of the life that you have been entrusted with.  You don’t have to be here.  You are.  It is a gift that you are here.  Be thankful, and live well.

Lord, destroy the power of entitlement in my life.  Enable me to live with deep thankfulness, no matter what is going on.  Amen.