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Giving Thanks for the Son

Brothers and Sisters,

For school I’ve been studying through the early church creeds and councils. Those creeds and councils, for the most part, were mainly focused on describing and defining the person and work of Jesus Christ, as well as his relationship to the Father and the Holy Spirit. One main component of this study has been to return to Scripture and read passages relating to the person and work of Jesus Christ. Last night I took time to read John 1:1-18, Philippians 2:5-11, Colossians 1:13-20, Colossians 2:9-10, and Hebrews 1:1-2:18.

In the course of reading these passages my heart was freshly warmed with thanks for Christ. That tells me something. It tells me that too often my heart is cold toward Christ. Perhaps that happens to you too. Perhaps that has happened to you. If that’s the case, let me encourage you to read through the above passages, and think of ways that you can give thanks to our Father for all that he has given us in his Son. If you don’t know where to start, perhaps start with Colossians 1:13-20:

13He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

From these verses, find ways to thank and praise the Father for what the Lord Jesus has done for us and for our salvation. Here are just a few suggestions for thanks:

v.13 – deliverance
v.14 – forgiveness
v.15 – revealing the invisible God
v.16 – for creating all things
v.17 – for holding all things together
v.18 – for leading the church
v.19 – for Christ’s divinity
v.20 – for making peace.

Let us give thanks and praise to our Father for his Son.

Warmly in Christ,

Mike