24 Aug September 8 Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS

BE THANKFUL

Colossians 3:15 “. . . be thankful.”

When you read or hear someone say the word “thankful,” your mind immediately wants to create a list of things for which you should give thanks to God.  Things at the top of your list would be spouse, family, home, job, retirement, food, clothing, and the like.  In the context of Colossians 3:15, there is one additional “thing” for which to thank God.  That would be His gift to you through Christ Jesus “peace.”

Yesterday’s devotional thought was about the peace that you have with God and one another through Jesus Christ.  Today’s devotional verse leads you to your knees to be thankful, grateful, and appreciative to God for His gift of peace which you receive through His Son.

As a Christian the peace you have with God and one another is so natural you may actually not be consciously aware you have it.  Sin destroys this peace.  Sin creates turmoil and distress between you and God, with yourself and with others.  Anxiety then rules.  Ulcers may even appear.

Thank God He sent Jesus to bring peace into your heart and life.  Peace may not have been in your thoughts as you began to construct your thanksgiving list, but think about the blessing it is for you.  Should it not be toward the top of your list.  Is it not a precious gift of God?  “O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good . . .” with peace being one of the precious good things God gives you.

Today’s devotional thought then encourages you to stop, take a moment to reflect upon the peace of God that is yours in Christ Jesus. If this peace is absent or has been, pray God to give it to you.  If in your reflection the Holy Spirit enables you to recognize it and its blessings in your life then give God thanks for it. Pray the prayer of the Psalmist, “O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good and His mercy endures forever.  Amen.” (Psalm 136:1)

Prayer: Thank You Lord for the peace You have and continue to give me in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

Now thank we all our God With hearts and hands and voices,

Who wondrous things has done, In whom His world rejoices;

Who from our mothers’ arms Has blest us on our way

With countless gifts of love And still is ours today.

Oh, ay this bounteous God Through all our life be near us,

With ever joyful hearts And blessed peace to cheer us

And keep us in His grace And guide us when perplexed

And free us from all ills In this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God The Father now be given,

The Son, and Him who reigns With them in highest heaven.

The one eternal God, Whom earth and heav’n adore;

For thus it was, is now, And shall be evermore.

(LSB 895)