v. 12-13

And joyfully giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light, for he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have the redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

 

On Thanksgiving, what are the things you have that you are giving thanks?

 

Now, what are the things of the future that you are giving thanks?

 

As God speaks to us through Paul’s words to the congregation in Colossae, we give thanks for what God has already given us.  Those blessings we already have are the reason we continue in unceasing prayer, thanks and praise to him.  In addition to the earthly things we have, he has given us the full knowledge of his will for our future.  God’s will is his saving will.  He gives us not only knowledge, but wisdom and understanding of that will so we can live and find peace in how it is different from our earthly and sinful expectations. 

 

We are thankful today because God has made us worthy of him.  As sinners, we are not worthy of him and cannot stand in his holy presence.  But he made us pure again in faith in the waters of baptism not just for our salvation but to bring to others the fruits he causes us to bear.  Those fruits are lives lived in witness of his love according to his commands.  Those fruits are in our living, in our speaking, in our thoughts, words and deeds that share God’s love in Jesus Christ with others.  The Gospel bears witness of God’s love in Jesus and increases.  Believers who live lives of faith bear fruit and increase the number of believers through that faithful witness.  It is as the parable of the sower whose planting increased 160 or 30 times.  Whether in prosperous or lean years, the harvest is always more than the amount of seed planted.  God’s love and word bring a plentiful harvest at all times.

 

We give thanks today because we are strengthened by God’s power and might.  In this world’s power and might we think of influence, of wealth, of military strength.  But God’s power and might are his word.  He created by this word.  His son, Jesus Christ is this word.  He forgives and heals by the power of his word.  We trust in his word.  That word is perfect and holy.  His word is never broken.  His word is truth.  His word never forsakes or leaves us.  His word is always with us as we hear that word and hold it safely in our hearts.

 

Today we thank God for what we will be, his citizens in heaven.  It is because he has qualified you.  He has made you worthy of his glories.  He does that as he rescues you from the darkness of sin, death and hell.  That darkness is replaced by his glorious and perfect light.  Think of being  afraid in the dark.  What is the thing that removes that fear?  It is light.  A small light leaves shadows and fear still lurks in those shadows.  But perfect light removes even the smallest shadows.  This light is Jesus who has conquered all darkness, all of the evils that exist there.

 

So, today, we give thanks not just for what we have in this earth, but the eternal glories God gives us in Jesus Christ, his son, our risen and ascended Lord and Savior who will come to take us into his glorious kingdom of light that has no end.  Amen.