"I pray that you will be giving thanks to the Father. He has made it so you could share the good things given to those who belong to Christ who are in the light. God took us out of a life of darkness. He has put us in the holy nation of His much-loved Son. We have been bought by His blood and made free. Our sins are forgiven through Him."
Paul speaks of thanksgiving and prayer in the first chapter of Colossians. He had heard that the people of Colossae have accepted Christ and their faith was growing. He Prayed without ceasing for them as he mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Notice how he pairs prayer with thanksgiving. To pray is to give thanks. To know that you have been saved, not by your own doing, but by someone else's action...someone who has known you longer than your parents, knows you better than your spouse. Doesn't ask for anything in return. Loves us unconditionally. Christ gave his life so that you could spend eternity in heaven with the Father, just because He loves you! Doesn't that deserve thanksgiving in prayer? In every way!
Of course there are those who will disagree and argue that there must be a catch...Be careful here. These thoughts are mere lies from Satan himself attempting to make you think you must earn His love. Isnt that the way the world works? In order to climb the ladder of success, to need to earn your way...pay your dues...nothing is free in this life. Sound familiar? Be Watchful bretheren! Thats what the world wants you to think...John 15:19 "If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. You do not belong to the world. I have chosen you out of the world and the world hates you."
Paul continues to describe that Jesus existed in the begining with God in Colossians 1:15-17 as he did in John 1:1 "Christ is as God is. God cannot be seen. Christ lived before anything was made. Christ made everything in the heavens and on the earth. He made everything that is seen and things that are not seen. He made all the powers of heaven. Everything was made by Him and for Him. Christ was before all things. All things are held together by Him."
Let us be glad and rejoice that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life! (John 3:16).
Thank you father for your everlasting love for us and for the ultimate sacrifice for our sake. In Jesus name, Amen!
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