Foppe VanderZwaag

The Apostle Paul writes in Colossians 3:15, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” This exhortation almost seems like an afterthought, both in this text and in our daily lives. “Oh, yes, when you happen to think about it, also be thankful”—as if it is not very important or necessary. We find it expressed in a similar way in Romans 1:21: “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful.”

But the Bible makes it abundantly clear that to be thankful is neither an afterthought nor optional. It is a duty, the neglect of which is a serious offense to God, for in not being thankful we deny God’s goodness and patience. God has every reason to expect us to be thankful, and we surely owe it to Him not only on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of our lives.

What is at the heart of being unthankful? It is to be discontent with our circumstances, whether our health, family life, possessions, occupation, or our not being noticed or appreciated. It hinges on whether or not we believe that God directs all things in all their tiny details of our lives, and that we do not deserve any good things because of our sins. If we see this in the right perspective, we are content; if we cannot or will not, we are discontent. That is what makes us satisfied or dissatisfied, happy or unhappy, thankful or unthankful.

If we have no grace and are still blind to this, we see others having more or better circumstances than we and think we deserve at least the same as they have, if not more. If, however, we have the grace of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we also see many others who have much less. Then we are amazed that God has given us anything good at all. We are not only content or satisfied but overflowing with thankfulness.

This thanksgiving flows from the peace of God ruling in our heart, as Paul writes to the Colossians. We have Christ the Prince of Peace living in our hearts, for we are “risen with Christ” and “seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1). We then become more and more focused on the needs of others, becoming more and more like Christ that He may be “all and in all” (v. 11).

Is the Lord Jesus your only hope and source of expectation? Do you really trust Him as a poor sinner who deserves nothing, yet in Him receives all things necessary for this life and for eternity? Has not God Himself assured us of that in Romans 8:32: “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things”?

We are exhorted to be thankful not only for what each one of us already has received, but also what we have received as a body, Christ’s body: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”

The more we are humbled by God’s goodness and patience with us, the more we also will be like Christ Himself in the way we deal with others. We are ordained by God to both come to Him and be like Him. Paul can therefore exhort us in the verses leading up to our text, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness” (vv. 12-14).

This is what Paul writes about in 1 Timothy 6:6 — “godliness with contentment is great gain.” May the Lord Himself fill you with His Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, so that you will give thanks from a heart overflowing with everything that is from Him as it returns to Him. Then His Name will receive all the glory, others around you will be edified, and you will be satisfied.

Rev. Foppe VanderZwaag is a pastor of the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Published by The Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth, used with permission.