FIRM FAITH IN CHRIST - PART 3

SATURDAY 21 MAY 2022

Paul's counsel is clear: Having received Christ, practically live in Him by getting deeply rooted and built up in Him. Be strengthened in the faith according to the Kingdom messages you are being taught, and then let your thanksgiving spill over into an overplus.

Reference: Colossians 2:6-7 New International Version (NIV) "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

Pauline's beseech in the above Scriptures is considered as multum in parvo, which is a great deal in a little space. It's more of valuable, spiritual information condensed into few words, to be manifested as a continual Christian practice or simply for practical purposes. Today, I'm going to discuss the last in order of mention, which is "Overflowing with thanksgiving."

When you receive Christ Jesus, you are expected to live in His likeness. As you get deeply rooted and continually constructed upon Him, the sure foundation, you'll start growing your faith, as well as growing in faith. As your faith grows, it will be tried and tested. In the process, your faith is strengthened by series of challenging encounters, and next, apostle Paul urges you to be thankful and progressively excel in gratitude.

Beloved, in our Christian faith, we must acknowledge the act of thankfulness in every way and everywhere and stay true to God with a heart of gratitude. Paul always sees the need for us to cultivate a great deal of thankfulness. The understanding is to flow out in grateful response to what the Spirit of God is doing in your life, as you hold fast your faith in Christ. On the real edge of our consciousness, Paul wants us to run into the riches of thanksgiving, which is a mindful engagement, meaning that we must learn to wrap ourselves in deep praise and worship from time to time.

Have you ever imagined how God feels while reading the wordings of your praise and worship in His throne room and observing your adoring flow? Your sincere thanksgiving to God can turn every negative page of your life's experiences to new pages of good fortune. By overflowing with thankfulness, we access the portal from the physical world to the spiritual realm where we perceive and witness the magnified and manifest presence of God. And with immediate effect, we could experience an ecstatic impartation of glory in God's presence, with a sudden awareness of His wonder and immensity of His delight.

In view of praising and giving quality thanks to God, I like to imagine an artist producing a pochade of captured atmosphere of scenes and imagery in the throne room where all the angels stand round about the throne, with the elders and the four beasts, worshipping God (see Revelation 7:11). As noted in the book of Revelation, they all constantly fall before the throne on their faces to worship God and their praise is accompanied by adoration and worship which denote "high quality" spiritual service. Does this brief revelation tell you anything about the sovereignty of the Almighty? Have you now understood why Paul instructs the saints to overflow with thankfulness?

Embarking on a journey of earnest thanksgiving to God is to seek, grasp and experience more of divinity. Therefore, spend time on a frequent basis, giving thanks to God because an attitude of thanksgiving or gratitude to God fortifies our heart, bestows worth on our Christian walk and guarantees the firmness of our faith in Christ. No wonder Paul wrote in his exhortations in 1st Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV): "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Shalom!

Scripture Reading - 1 Chronicles 16:34; Hebrews 12:28; Philippians 4:4-7; Ephesians 5:18-20; Hebrews 13:15; Colossians 3:15-17.

Exuberant Declaration: My heart and lips are full of honour and adoration to God and I display the habit of gratitude. I rejoice in the Lord always and my praise and worship generate buoyant and pleasant aroma in heaven's throne room. Hallelujah!