“A THANKFUL HEART”
OUR DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
READ: Colossians 4 (Focus vs.2–6)
MEMORY VERSE
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2
BACKGROUND
Seneca, the great philosopher of ancient Rome (4 BC–AD 65), was once accused by the empress Messalina of adultery. After the Senate sentenced Seneca to death, the emperor Claudius instead exiled him to Corsica, perhaps because he suspected the charge was false.
This reprieve may have shaped Seneca’s view of thankfulness when he wrote: “homicides, tyrants, thieves, adulterers, robbers, sacrilegious men, and traitors there always will be, but worse than all these is the crime of ingratitude.”
A contemporary of Seneca’s, the apostle Paul, may have agreed. In Romans 1:21, he wrote that one of the triggers for the downward collapse of humankind was that they refused to give thanks to God.
Writing to the church at Colossae, three times Paul challenged his fellow believers in Christ to gratitude. He said we should be “overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:7).
As we let God’s peace “rule in [our] hearts,” we’re to respond with thankfulness (3:15). In fact, gratitude ought to characterize our prayers (4:2).
God’s great kindnesses to us remind us of one of life’s great realities. He not only deserves our love and worship, He also deserves our thankful hearts. Everything that’s good in life comes from Him (James 1:17).
With all we’ve been given in Christ, gratitude should be as natural as breathing. May we respond to God’s gracious gifts by expressing our gratitude to Him.
By: Bill Crowder
INSIGHT
In Colossians 4:2–6, Paul draws our attention to his commitment to the Great Commission. Before we tell others about Jesus, Paul instructs us to spend time talking with God about those who don’t yet believe in Him.
The Greek word translated “devote” (v. 2) means “to give attention to; to spend much time together.” Effective evangelism begins with praying for opportunities to share our faith in Jesus, asking for courage to talk about Him and for clarity of our message (vv. 3–4).
We’re to “make the most of every opportunity” when it comes to sharing the good news (v. 5). Paul advocates living a life that draws others to Christ (v. 6). Jesus spoke of letting our “light shine before others, that they may see [our] good deeds” (Matthew 5:15–16).
Peter tells us to “be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks . . . the reason for the hope that [we] have” (1 Peter 3:15).
By: K. T. Sim
APPLICATION
What are some of the biggest, most enduring blessings you’ve received in life? What everyday blessings have you experienced that are often easy to forget?
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
“Count Your Blessings Name Them One By One” – the old hymn encourages us but if we were to take it seriously, we will realize that soon we will run out of numbers to count since every second we breathe is a blessing
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (My Re-Emphasis from Post)
“God’s great kindnesses to us remind us of one of life’s great realities… Everything that’s good in life comes from Him”
*YOUR TAKE? 
PRAYER
“Loving Father, forgive me for the times I’ve taken You and Your blessings for granted. Create in me a thankful heart, so I’ll honor and praise You for all You’ve done and are doing.”
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD”
Now thank we all our God
with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done,
in Whom His world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us,
to keep us in His grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
of this world in the next.
All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son and Spirit blest,
who reign in highest heaven
the one eternal God,
whom heaven and earth adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.
READING THROUGH THE BIBLE THIS YEAR (THIS WEEK)
THE BOOK OF JUDGES CHAPTERS 1-7
THE BOOK OF II CORINTHIANS CHAPTERS 1-7