“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:” Colossians 1:12.

“Count your blessings, name them one by one; Count your blessings, see what God hath done.” A line from the lyrics of an old Baptist hymn that reminds us to be thankful for all our many blessings. The Apostle Paul prays for the saints in Colossae, among the things that he prays for, is that in receiving innumerous spiritual blessings, they would give thanks to God the Father for the inheritance that He had prepared for all of His beloved children. “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:” Colossians 1:12.

In 1620, a group of religious separatists left the control of the English rule in search of a place to practice and serve God freely; they gave God thanks for His many blessings and thus the history books record, the beginning of Thanksgiving. But, praise God, thanksgiving did not start with the Pilgrims, but with the grace of Almighty God on a hill called Calvary one Friday afternoon! His only begotten Son was crucified for the sins of all men; Jesus the Christ rose on the third day with all power in heaven and in earth in His hands; His amazing grace has set us free from spiritual bondage and gives unto us the right to eternal life!

The Apostle Paul’s prayer for the saints in Colossae holds true for us today; those of us who have been saved by the grace of Almighty God, should first of all give thanks for salvation! Yes, we are grateful for our families, food, clothing, the successes, health, and all of the many blessing that God so graciously gives us; but it is more about the eternal inheritance that we have laid up in heaven that is first.

The seventy-that were sent out by Jesus, returned with expressions of awe because of the spiritual power they received to perform miracles and cast our demons, His response was “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20.

When we have Jesus my friends, we have more than we can humanly imagine, in this life and in the life to come. So, let us thank God for His precious gift of salvation and His power to give us the sufficiency to walk in His light through Jesus Christ our Lord; “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” Ephesians 1:3.

Thanks be to God … and Happy Thanksgiving to all!