TOPIC: THANKSGIVING IS THE ACCESS
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 29–30; Titus 1
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” — Colossians 3:17 (KJV)
In the Old Testament setting, Hebrews 9:7 tells us that the high priest entered the second part of the tabernacle alone once a year, “not without blood,” which he offered for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. This reveals the seriousness of approaching God under the Old Covenant, where access to His presence was associated with the offering of blood. Under the New Covenant, Jesus Christ offered His blood once and for all for our redemption. Through Him, we now have access to the Father, and our thanksgiving becomes a response of gratitude and worship for the sacrifice He made on our behalf.
No one who has truly understood the grace of God can remain indifferent to the worth of Jesus’ blood and the magnitude of the price He paid with His life. The debt of sin was such we could not pay, but Jesus paid the price for our redemption. Ephesians 1:7 declares, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Therefore, thanksgiving should be a natural response to the grace we have received. An unthankful attitude fails to reflect the appreciation that grace inspires in us. Hebrews 12:28 reminds us, “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” In Colossians 3:17, Paul gives us two guiding principles for our words and actions: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Whatever you do, wherever you go, even at workplace, let your heart be filled with thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving is not merely an optional expression of gratitude; it is an essential part of the believer’s worship and response to the sacrifice of Jesus. We must never lose sight of what Christ has done for us. Keep your eyes on His finished work and let praise and thanksgiving continually flow from your heart. As we give thanks and worship God in faith, we acknowledge His goodness and remain attentive to His leading, provision, and power. Let your life be marked by gratitude, reverence, and a continual remembrance of the grace you have received through Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the precious blood of Jesus and access to Your presence that I have received through Him. Help me never to take Your grace for granted. Let thanksgiving continually flow from my heart, and may my words and actions honour the name of Jesus.
Pastor Alfred Samuel