Walking Worthy – Experiencing Joy in Thanksgiving
Colossians 1:12-13
… with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.
This week we will look at the fourth characteristic of walking worthy in the life of the believer.
Joyfully giving thanks to the Father …
Why are believers to joyfully give thanks?
- Because He has enabled us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
How did God do this?
- He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.
Let’s take a closer look at two words in verse 13. The word for rescued in the original language is,rhyomai, which means to draw to oneself, to draw or snatch away from danger. The word fortransferred is, metahistemi, which denotes a change of place or condition. Meta meaning to cause or bring about and histemi meaning to stand.
What Paul is saying here is that God, through His Son, Jesus, has drawn or snathched us away from the danger of darkness (sin) and caused us to stand in His Kingdom. That wonderful Kingdom is now our inheritance.
What better reason to “joyfully give thanks” could there be than this? As believers we no longer have an inheritance of darkness and death but one of glorious light and life everlasting. One day we will have the joy of looking into the face of Jesus in the radiant light of His glory forever!
Until then, we must show our gratitude by thanking God daily, even moment by moment, for this marvelous rescue. We also need not walk as though we are in darkness but rather in the light of Christ. We are to walk as those worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ, as heirs to the One who sits on the throne.
Take a moment to ponder these verses and then joyfully give thanks to the Father …
How often do you thank God for your amazing inheritance? What are your prayers filled with … requests for yourself and others or praise and thanksgiving to your God and King?
Try infusing your prayers with praise and thanks to God. They will become powerful, and you will be blessed as your remember your glorious inheritance!
Next week we will take a closer look at what Jesus did to transfer us into His Kingdom. Until then, give thanks, my sisters! Let what God has done fill your heart to overflow with joy and gratitude this week!
Joy and blessings,
The Women’s Ministry Team
This post first appeared on the blog, susancady.com, ©2012