Thanksgiving Overflow

Big punch.  The Bible is full of short passages with it.  Such a one is Colossians 2:6-7  that says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thanksgiving.”  Yes, yes, your translation probably doesn’t say “walk,” but that’s the word.  I’ll get there in a minute.  But what gets me here is the “overflowing with thanksgiving” connected to the “just as.”  Now I know how I felt when I became a Christian.  I was overflowing, no question!  Paul calls us to remember that because he expects us to overflow a year in – five years in – 20 years in – 80 years in… How’re we doing?  Whew… I can tell you from personal experience I’ve had long seasons of thanksgiving drought!  Yet Paul says overflow – continually.  Yeah.  That’s another word chock-full of punch.  Okay Paul, how? It all fits together here.  If we’re going to overflow with thanksgiving, we’re going to have to stay real close to Jesus.  How close?  Um, “in.”  Not “with,” “in.”  Walk in Him.  Moving around in Him.  Treading, hiking, perambulating in Him, covered in the fullness of Christ.  He directs the steps.  His eyes turn our focus on His ways in the “fulness of the Deity” as it describes Jesus a little later.  Not “with” as an outside observer taking in our own perceptions of our surroundings, but “in!”  Let’s get this very clear here though – this is an invitation Jesus gives to us every day.  He’s not forcing us to do it.  We can step out any time.  But why in the world would we want to??  A little later Paul says we have been given fulness in Christ.  We are made complete – but only in Him! The other language is just as punchy – rooted in him, built up in him, strengthened in the faith as we were taught.  Like physical therapy is to physical regeneration, walking in Christ is the spiritual therapy we need to live amazing spiritual lives!  We stay firmly rooted in Him, drawing all our sustenance from Him while He builds us up to strengthen our weaknesses in the faith we received.  And it’s daily and it’s a spectacular new thing as Jesus continually piles on mercy and grace and shows us new vistas of splendor.  “Of course it was great at first – but that was just the beginning. Here – have some more.  And more.  And more….”  And our hearts? Well, they overflow….