"Be Ye Thankful"
Colossians 3:15
Paul admonishes us to be thankful because
thanks- giving is the will of God (I Thess.
"Be ye
thankful" for God's electing love. "Praise the LORD; for the
LORD is good: sing praise unto his name, for it is pleasant. For
the LORD hath chosen (you!) unto himself, and for his peculiar treasure"
(Psa. 135:3-4). Election is cause for thanksgiving (II Thess.
"Be ye
thankful" for your redemption by the pre- cious blood of Christ (Psa.
103:1-4). "Blessed be the Lord God of
"Be ye
thankful" for the pardon and forgiveness of your sin (Isa. 43:25).
To be redeemed is to be forgiven. God, through the blood of Christ, freely,
completely, constantly and eternally forgives all the sins of all who trust his
dear Son.
"Be ye
thankful" for God's adopting grace. "Behold what manner of
love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of
God" (I John 3:1). "Be ye thankful" for the Spirit's effectual, irresistible
regenerating grace. "Of his own will begat he us
with the word of truth" (James
"Be ye thankful" for the blessed
victory that is ours through grace (I Cor.
Don Fortner