Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
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.
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.
~ Colossians 3:15-7Three verses in a row.
Be thankful.
With gratitude.
Giving thanks.
Is Paul trying to give us a hint or what?!
Receive Christ's peace? Be thankful. Helping others? Sing to God with gratitude. Doing anything? Give thanks to God. Thankfulness is that dire!
I wonder -- if Paul concludes each sentence here with gratefulness, then is that his way of telling us how we are to conclude every gift received, every word spoken, every single thing we do?
I think that there is a lot more insight to be gleaned from these thankfulness directives (is Paul building upon the previous one? each one seems to be specifically paired with the main exhortation of the verse...).
Other verses cover giving thanks in everything (1 Thess. 5:18), for everything (Eph. 5:20), and I think these ones really might be pointing us to giving thanks through everything.
May our actions and words be filled with gratefulness,
