Have a Grateful Heart

Colossians 3: 12-17 (ESV) “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. And above all these, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

This passage has more to it than just thankfulness, but the whole jist of it creates gratefulness in the soul. The world focuses on its passions and problems which will produce a greedy heart. We set our eyes on Christ which produces a grateful heart. There is no parallel for the disciple and the world. The further we distance ourselves from the world the greater our joy.

Compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, love bound together in perfect harmony, the peace of Christ, thankfulness, the word of Christ dwelling in you richly, teaching and admonishing in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns, spiritual songs with a thankful heart, giving thanks to the Father through Christ. Now that’s a mouthful!

As we ask the Holy Spirit to develop these attributes in us through our submission to Him, each and every one of them brings gladness and thankfulness into our lives. Gratefulness springs outwardly from within our hearts towards the Trinity, towards each other, and towards the lost. It cannot remain contained. It is that ‘spring of living water’ that bubbles up, spills over, and spreads outwardly to others. It bursts out in grateful praise, lifting holy hands to the Father. Gratefulness binds the Church together in love. And gratefulness extends a hand to the lost in compassion and kindness so they may see and know the One True God.

Philippians 4:8 “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

These things will grow a grateful heart if we practice them. So please be grateful. God has lavished you in His love and that is worthy of thanksgiving!

Amen?