Message #1: The Meaning Of A Thankful Heart Series

Then Paul says, “. . . and be thankful . . .”. It almost sounds like a thought that Paul just threw in for good measure. It didn’t really fit anywhere else, but it was important enough to include somewhere, so he just decided to stick it here. “Let the peace of Christ rule and be thankful." I submit to you that I think Paul was very intentional when he tied peace and thankfulness together. When I am thankful for my world, then I can be at peace with my world. When I am thankful for my brothers in Christ, then I can be at peace with them. And when I remember what God has done by bringing me into relationship with Himself through Jesus and am thankful for that, then I can let the peace of Christ control every thought, every action, every word. The more thanks, the more peace. The less thanks, the less peace. The two are in direct proportion to one another. You want peace? Try being thankful.

2. A thankful heart is a heart where Christ’s word is overflowing.

Colossians 3:15-16-And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

“Let the peace of Christ rule”. Then Paul says, “Let the word of Christ dwell”

“word of Christ” – It is the word about Christ. Everything that describes Him – what He did while on the earth, how He reacted to people, the sacrificial life that He lived and death that He died. It is the word by Christ. The words that He spoke to His disciples. The thoughts and ideas and ways of Almighty God. The perspective that He has on this world. The way that He sees people. And it is the word which is Christ.

Remember, John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Jesus Himself.

“dwell” – It is that word which Paul says is supposed to dwell in me. From time to time, I have had persons come to my house and spend some time there. They stayed overnight or even for a few nights. Some of my family has come; some of Stephanie’s family has come. Different speakers for the church have stayed in my home. All of these persons were guests. There is a difference between a guest and someone who dwells in a home. A guest is not a permanent resident. A dweller is. A guest comes and goes according to what is convenient for him and for his host. A dweller remains regardless of the circumstances. A guest does not have the right to go in and paint the walls a different color if he wants to. Many years ago, my friend Pastor Danny Norris, came and preached a fall revival for our church. During that week that he was here, Brother Danny stayed at my home. There were times that he was alone at our home while I was out doing my duties here at the church. What if one day I came home and found him painting the walls in my living room purple or some other color? How do you think that I would react? But he didn’t do that. He didn’t move any furniture. He didn’t even do any laundry. It wasn’t his home. He didn’t have the right to make any changes to it. A dweller has that right. I am a dweller in my home; I have the right to paint my living room purple or any other color I choose. I have the right to make changes.