Giving thanks unto the Father

Colossians
{1:12} Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light
{1:13} Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son
{1:14} In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins
{1:15} Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature
{1:16} For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him
{1:17} And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

**

With Thanksgiving just around the corner this is something that is very pertinent. Giving thanks.

When you thank someone (not being sarcastic) it's a genuine feeling of gratitude isn't it? An appreciation of something they've done, something they've said. An act of kindness usually precedes a thank you, and sometimes a thank you come beforehand in anticipation of a forthcoming kindness. You done it haven't you? Asked someone to do you a favor and thanked him or her before the favor is done. You're thanking them in anticipation of the act being done. More often than not though, we thank people after they've helped us out. Can you remember the last time you thanked someone? I do. Last night and I believe it was Matthew for taking the Garbage out to the curb. What about the last time you were thanked? I believe Jo thanked me for giving her money for a treat after school, last night. In both cases there were acts precipitating the thanking.

There are a lot of things we need to be thankful for, a lot. The most important thank you should go to God, the Father.

Just as an Oscar award winner stands up and says-- 'I'd like to thank my father without whom I'd never have come this far.' We need to thank our Heavenly Father because with Him we would never be partakers in the inheritance to come. The Bible says so...

Colossians
{1:12} Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light
{1:13} Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son
{1:14} In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins

**

Here mixed up in this thankful moment are bits of both types of thanking- after the act of kindness and before the act of kindness.

We thank God because the way to Him has been forged. We thank God because we know He'll keep His promises for the future when we are translated to the kingdom of Jesus.

The way is forged and there is nothing that can change that at all whatsoever. The promises to us are very real.

We talk about the powers of darkness dragging us down, but we can thank God for delivering us from that power of darkness. We have hope, great hope and that has been made possible through the Son of God. It's through Christ's blood we are redeemed, it's through Christ's blood we have our sins forgiven.

Christ by whom all things are possible-

{1:15} Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature
{1:16} For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him
{1:17} And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Amazing isn't it! Truly amazing. We weren't created and left to flounder. We were created and loved. We were created, watched over, and when we chose wrong a way was made for us to find redemption.

No matter what our circumstances on earth, and some truly have circumstances we find hard to comprehend, we all have Christ in common. From the richest to the poorest, from the healthiest to the sickest, we have our Creator, our Redeemer to look to for hope, for salvation, for a new life, for a future kindness. We thank God the Father for the Son. We thank the Son for revealing the Father's love and offering us hope through His great sacrifice. We thank the Holy Spirit, the comforter sent to us while we make our way through the time we must spend here on earth waiting for the promise to come when Christ returns.

There is so much for us to be thankful for, but first and foremost, God. God who offers us the greatest hope of all through His son, in offering us a life without the sin that brings so many so much heartache and pain.

Our hope is in Heaven.

Our hope born of the blood of the Lamb.

Our hope is grasped onto now tightly, and our hope will be realized.

Thank you God for all You've done, for creation, for redemption, for hope when the powers of darkness would have us to believe life is hopeless.

Amen.