Colossians 3:15–17 “The Secret of Reviving Thanksgiving”
The Word is Powerful.
The Word transforms our lives.
Let us desire the Word.
Thanksgiving is not found in the Bible itself, but it is a holiday that originated in the United States based on biblical principles.
In 1621, when the Pilgrims crossed over to the American continent, they did not give thanks because they had an abundant harvest in a plentiful land.
In fact, their harvest was meager, and many children and adults had died.
Yet, despite this, they responded with gratitude for the grace that “God had been with them.”
That is how Thanksgiving began.
Today, I want to share with you “The Secret of Reviving Thanksgiving” through three truths.
1. Let the Peace of Christ Rule Your Heart
First, we need to understand the difference between comfort and peace.
Comfort is like a boat floating on a calm sea—no wind, no waves, everything is still.
Peace, however, is different.
Peace is when the boat is being rocked by wind and waves,
and yet you can still say,
“God, things are not okay, but I am okay.
I’m struggling, but You are my God.
You are with me now, and You will guide me through everything ahead.”
That confidence in your relationship with God—
the assurance that He is with you and for you—
is what the Bible calls peace.
Jesus, our Shepherd who came to dwell in our hearts, said,
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
(John 14:27)
Paul urges us:
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.”
The world we live in is not peaceful.
We can’t find peace by looking at our circumstances.
That’s why the peace of Jesus must govern our hearts—our minds, our thoughts, our eyes, our ears.
When we allow Christ’s peace to rule us,
when we remember the cross, hold on to His grace, and follow His lead,
thanksgiving naturally flows from our hearts.
2. Let the Word of Christ Dwell in You Richly
To revive thanksgiving, the Word of Christ must be alive in us.
We can attend worship and listen to sermons every week,
but not everyone leaves with a living Word inside them.
What does it mean for the Word to be alive?
It means we respond to the Word.
It means we obey the Word.
The Word itself is always alive—
but it becomes alive in us when we respond and obey.
In Matthew 7, Jesus speaks of two builders:
one builds on rock, the other on sand.
He calls the wise man the one who hears His words and acts on them.
The man who built on sand is not someone who did nothing.
He also built a house—but he built it his own way.
He acted, but not in obedience.
To build on the rock, we must wrestle with God’s Word and obey it,
even when it’s hard.
If you want the Word to live in you,
keep your place in worship.
Read Scripture. Meditate on it.
And respond to what God is saying.
That is how the Word becomes living and active within you.
3. Do Everything in the Name of Jesus
What does it mean to do something in Jesus’ name?
It carries two important meanings:
1️⃣ It means to represent Him.
2️⃣ It means that when you act in His name, you receive His power to accomplish that task.
When we act in Jesus’ name, we represent Him—
in our workplaces, in our schools, in every part of life.
And as His representatives, He empowers us to do His work.
When we pray and say, “In Jesus’ name,”
we are declaring several powerful truths:
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I belong to Jesus.
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Because of His cross, I can now pray.
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Because of Him, I can depend on God and bring everything before Him.
This is our privilege.
Dear brothers and sisters,
life is not easy.
But today—this very day—is a day that Jesus has given you.
Every meeting, every encounter, every challenge today is permitted by Him.
And as you live this day, remember:
through your words and actions,
Jesus Himself is working.
Even when you fall short,
He continues to use you as salt and light in your workplace, your school, your home.
When you remember this, gratitude rises naturally.
Paul wrote the letter to the Colossians while he was in prison.
Even there—in chains—he wrote about living life with Christ and said,
“Be thankful.”
Isn’t that amazing?
That is the power and mystery of grace.
Conclusion: Revive Thanksgiving
From today, revive thanksgiving in your heart.
Hold on to it.
Let it heal your spirit and restore your soul.
May this week be a week where gratitude raises your spiritual health,
where peace rules your heart,
where the Word lives in you richly,
and where everything you do is done in the name of Jesus Christ—
to the glory of God.
