THE POWER OF GRATITUDE: OVERCOMING DISCOURAGEMENT

We continue our series The Power of Gratitude with the sermon Blessed by Grace.  Gratitude is believing that we have received more than we deserve.  Our entitled society tells us that we deserve more rather than less.  When we lose any sense of gratitude for our lives, our nation, or our relationships, we become angry and resentful.  The pastor Andy Stanley says that “you owe me” is the foundation of anger.  Perhaps our lack of thankfulness and gratitude explains some of the turmoil in 2020.  What do we deserve?  If most of us were to get what we actually deserved from God it would not be pretty.  God does not give us what we deserve because of one word: grace!  In the sermon Blessed by Grace we turn to Colossians 3:8-17.  These words remind us of the battle of the Christian life, we must strip away the dead ways of sin and put on the new life of Jesus Christ.  How is this possible?  Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul gives these early Christians and us a path to tearing off the old ways and living into a powerful grace!  May you find the grace of God’s Spirit filling you with thankfulness as you as you read Colossians 3:8-17:  8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col. 3:8-17 NIV)