Col 2:4, 6-7 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (ESV)
Two thoughts stood out to me as I reflected on these verses. First is that a thankful heart is one protection against "plausible arguments" that lead to false teaching and spiritual bondage. As you read this chapter you discover that some of the principles for guarding against false teaching and spiritual bondage include unity in love, a full understanding of who we are in Christ, and being firmly established in the faith. But along with those is "abounding in thanksgiving."
I think that a thankful heart is a heart focused on Christ and his grace. It is therefore less likely to be deluded by man-centered teaching. A heart that is not thankful is a dissatisfied heart that is looking for something and therefore open to wrong teaching. So, a thankful heart is one protection against "plausible arguments" that lead to false teaching and spiritual bondage.
Second, I find it interesting that thanksgiving is one of the things listed under the category of "as you received Christ Jesus the Lord..." Christ is received by faith. When we receive Christ we are "rooted and built up in him" and enter into a process of being "established in the faith." But we are also thankful. A true understanding of the gospel results in a grateful heart. Release from the guilt and bondage of sin produces thanksgiving. Perhaps when Jesus sent a message to the Ephesian church through John in Revelation 2 to "do the works you did at first" he was thinking about giving thanks among other things.
Giving thanks is a natural result of receiving blessing that we know we do not deserve. It is also an act of faith, demonstrating trust when we can't see the solution. It is where our faith began and it protects us from the deceptions of the ungrateful.
Father, forgive me for how quickly I complain and how slowly I give thanks. Today may that be reversed.
By His grace,
Rick Weinert
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