Bible Ballistics: BBs #412 Gratitude With An Attitude???

 

But not the attitude that you may be thinking about! Paul calls God’s children—believers in Jesus—to be a grateful people but with “a kick”, if you would! We’re not to simply “give thanks” but we are called to express it, in an unexpected way for many. Paul calls us to it in as he offers his prayer for the Colossians.

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you,

and to desire

that ye might be filled with the knowledge

of his will

in all wisdom

and spiritual understanding;

10 That ye might walk worthy

of the Lord

unto all pleasing,

being fruitful

in every good work,

and increasing in the knowledge

of God;

11 Strengthened with all might,

according to his glorious power,

unto all patience

and longsuffering

with joyfulness;

12 Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet (fit)

to be partakers

of the inheritance

of the saints

in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom

of his dear Son:

14 In whom

we have redemption

through his blood, even the forgiveness

of sins:”    Colossians 1:9-14

Our gratitude is to be to God Almighty who has saved and delivered us from the “power of darkness”! But we’re to be grateful with “all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness”! Oh, no, not the “P” word! Patience? Yes, patience and longsuffering which are two Greek words for the same principle, but one deals with “abiding under” circumstances, and the other with “putting up with” people—patiently! Why? Because we belong to God who extended HIS mercy and grace to us, how much more ought we extend grace and mercy in “patience” with our circumstances and “longsuffering” with other people?

So ponder on this passage today and I pray that God will help each of us measure our attitude by His standard not the world’s! May we rejoice with the Psalmist today!

“O come,

let us sing unto the LORD:

let us make a joyful noise

to the rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before his presence

with thanksgiving,

and make a joyful noise

unto him with psalms.

3 For the LORD is a great God,

and a great King

above all gods.” Psalm 95:1-3

Amen and Amen!