”Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." Col 2:6-7

The image of a life that “overflows with thanksgiving” is nice to aspire towards, but typically not the reality that comes most naturally to us. 

Often we focus on building dams that hold onto our time, talent and treasure, rather that lives that overflow with gratitude and generosity. We easily become entitled to what we want, preoccupied with what we don’t have, and victimized when we don’t get what we deserve. 

There’s got to be a better way.

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”  -Colossians 2:6-7

We all want to be strong!  We want the steadiness and stability to stand tall no matter what life throws our way.  The problem is that we usually misunderstand what strength really is, where it comes from, and how God calls us to use it. 

This week we'll look at how we're "Strengthened in the Faith" from Colossians 2:6-7.  We'll see the radical Gospel nature of true strength and the fullness of life we can experience when we embrace Christ who is our strength.

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”  -Colossians 2:6-7

Sometimes we find ourselves surrounded by voices that tear us down rather than build us up. Those voices deceptively tell us that we’re happenstance, or an accident, or just a screw-up. They can lead us to believe that our lives don’t have a point, a plan, or a purpose. 

But Jesus says something altogether different about us, and to us. He tells us that we have been designed BY Him, joined together IN Him, and full of hope BECAUSE OF Him. 

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
Colossians 2:6-7

It can be easy to add extra steps to the Gospel.   

The problem in doing so is that it’s actually a claim that the cross isn’t fully sufficient: that Jesus’ sacrifice isn’t enough…and I have to do something more to fully embrace the Gospel. 

When we attempt to separate how we received our saving grace through Jesus’ finished work from how we live our lives, we end up just trying to survive. 

But Jesus has a better way - a finished way - a completed way - that allows us to THRIVE.