Let us sing praise to God with gratitude!
“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 word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 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 3:15-17).
Tonight, we came up to church to worship God before we want to say good bye to year 2011. We want to reflect on this year 2011 and remember all the graces of God He has poured out upon us and celebrate. As I thought our whole church members, each one of you and your family in this year 2011, I thanked the Lord. The reason why I gave and still wants to give thanks to God is because what He has done in you and for you throughout this year. What did the Lord do to us throughout this year? I am sure there are lots of things He did. But I just want to share three main things:
First, the Lord has given us peace of Christ to rule our hearts.
Look at Colossians 3:15 – “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful”. Can you imagine we Christians are enjoying God’s peace in the midst of hardship and suffering? This world cannot give us peace when we are suffering. But God does. He gives us divine peace that the world cannot give. And I thank the Lord for the peace of Christ that He has given to our church members in the midst of their hardship and difficulties. How can we not give thanks to God for the peace that He has given us. It is the Lord who has done this for us. And I firmly believe that He will continually do so for His own glory.
The second thing that the Lord has done in our church is that He let the word of Christ do dwell in us richly.
Look at Colossians 3:16a –“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom …”. The Lord has taught us and admonished us with His Word. He has enabled us to love His Word and seek His word. Moreover, the Lord has brought transformation in our lives as He promised to build His church. And I know and believe that the Lord will continually transform us with the Word of God because He is faithful even though we are unfaithful.
The third thing that the Lord has done in our church is that He has enabled us to sing praises to Him with gratitude in our hearts.
Look at Colossians 3:16b – “… and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God”. When I think about three ministries, the Lord has sent us the praise leaders and raised them among us in this year. And the Lord answered our prayers for those who were going through difficulties so that with thanksgiving in our hearts He enabled us to praise Him.
Therefore, as we say good bye forever to year 2011 and as we welcome the New Year 2012, whatever we do, whether in word or deed, let us do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God through praise (v.17). May God receive all the glories through our praises in thanksgiving!
As I desire to sing praises to God with thanksgiving in my heart,
Pastor James Kim