Lesson 3 – Setting a Good Foundation – Constant Thanksgiving
Read Colossians 1 - https://www.bible.com/bible/59/col.1.esv

The second thing we find in this first chapter to show us how to have a stable life in Jesus Christ, is in verses 3-8 – we are to constantly give thanks.

Verse 3 begins with this important part to building a faith that is a strong foundation for us – giving thanks to God. Ephesians 5:20 says we give thanks FOR everything. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says we give thanks IN everything. In these verses, Paul is giving thanks for other believers – do we give thanks for others around us who are believers even when it’s so easy to be arguing with someone over a minor issue that isn’t ours to worry about anyway?

In verses 6-8, Paul gives us the reason for this state of thankfulness. Do we see anything in these verses that has anything to do with our physical life – health, money, job, success? Just so, our thankfulness is never related to earthly things God might give us. Of course He gives us things we need, and of course we are thankful for them – but may I say again, they are NEVER the reason for our thankfulness.

Then what is the reason for thankfulness? “Because of the hope laid up for [us] in heaven.” The word of truth, the Gospel, which bears fruit in us when we hear and accept it draws us into a love-relationship with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. When we accept it/Him, we have a purpose in life that we never had before. We have a future that was never ours before. When we keep our eyes and hearts firmly based there in that sure and certain hope of heaven, the troubles and trials of this life dim in importance. We fix our eyes on that hope by thanking God for and in everything in our lives – getting a promotion, losing a job, needing food for our table, having enough to share with someone else, betrayed trust, a new friend – anything and everything that happens around us.

*Name the hardest thing in your life ______
Now ask God to help you sincerely and honestly say thanks to Him for allowing this into your life.