6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. —Colossians 2: 1-7
A special thanksgiving service was sponsored by SU Community Welfare & Teaching Services on Nov. 12 in honor of the late Kisca Grace G. Procianos. She was a 17-year old freshman MedTech student who met a tragic vehicular accident in Lanao while on semestral break. Kisca’s parents came all the way to Dumaguete from Lanao to join the celebration at the historic Silliman Hall. When it was time for Mrs. Procianos to recall the beautiful life of her daughter, it was hard not to shed tears — to think about my own children, to wonder in my heart what it must feel like having to go through something so painful, so awful, so horrible. I could only imagine. Most of us could only imagine.
Janet Hagberg and Robert Guelich, authors of The Critical Journey, Stages in the Life of Faith, Second Edition
believe that all of us would have to come face to face with extremely difficult and painful trials. Our faiths will be tested to its greatest limits. Our perseverance will be stretched to its breaking point. This is what they call, the “Wall”. It is our face to face encounter with our sheer helplessness and powerlessness. It is the moment of truth.
For Abraham, it was the offering of his son Isaac on the altar of sacrifice. For Joseph, it was being abandoned by his brothers. For Daniel, it was the lion’s den. For Elijah, it was the 850 prophets who bowed before the false gods of Israel. For David, it was Goliath. For Mary, it was receiving the Son of God upon her womb. For Jesus, it was walking towards Golgotha to meet his death.
How about us? What is our Wall? Is it betrayal? Is it rejection? Is it an incurable disease? Is it the downfall of a business? Is it the break-up of marriage and family life? Is there so much public expectation from us? Are you burdened by a wayward child? Or perhaps a wayward parent?
What makes this Wall truly significant is that when you come face to face with it, you will realize that you cannot go over it, you cannot go around it, you cannot even go under it; you just have to go through it — miraculously and supernaturally by the sheer mercy of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
As I spoke about this Wall before the CWTS students and the grieving parents of Kisca, I remember saying, “I do not know how God is going to do it but one thing I know is that someday, somehow, you will get through all this.” Kisca’s parents spoke the word of agreement in tears, “Amen, Pastor. Thank you, Lord!” Thank you Lord, indeed!
In our scripture reading, apostle Paul speaks about the need for God’s people to overflow with thankfulness even in the most crucial moments of our lives. 6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
We must all remember that thanksgiving is really more of a fruit. It is a result. It is a by-product. Thanksgiving is an outcome and a consequence. It cannot just overflow without a certain source; not just any other source, but a True and Genuine Source.
God’s Word identifies this source as Christ himself, receiving and inviting him into our lives in the spirit of faith, growing patiently in our relationship with him through His Word, and allowing that relationship to take deeper root, to be built up, and to be strengthened.
And once that precious relationship is strengthened, it will burst forth, and we can expect a glorious overflow of every imaginable good work in Christ Jesus. The overflow will be generous. It will be unstoppable even by the greatest pains and tragedies of our lives.
Now we ask ourselves, Am I an overflowing kind of a believer? Is there so much grace and joy within me that cannot be contained, that it just keeps making its way out of my every word and every deed? Is there such an overflow of God’s goodness within me?
Scottish pastor Alexander Whyte
(Jan. 13, 1836 – Jan. 6, 1921) was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit. He had such a positive and grateful outlook that he always found something to be thankful for. One Sunday morning, the weather was so gloomy, and there was an obvious sense of sadness and despair in the congregation. One church member thought to himself, “Certainly, the pastor won’t have anything to thank God for on this terrible day.” Much to his surprise, however, Pastor Whyte began by praying, “We thank Thee, O God, that it is not always like this.”
You see, friends, an overflowing believer is relentless and unstoppable. We may face the greatest Wall, but somehow, someway, indeed, God takes our hand, and walks us right through it!
We don’t have to look very far, friends. We only have to look right into our own hearts, and our own life-experiences. Many of us are survivors of every imaginable war in this journey of life: cancer, the death of loved ones, unimaginable family conflicts, great financial shaking, abandonment, injustice, and yes, even rejection, name it!
But look at us! We are here by the grace and mercy of Jesus. How can we not overflow in thanksgiving? How can we spend the rest of our lives in misery? How can we even grumble and complain?
6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord. You see, we like the idea of receiving Christ as Savior — and that is important. But oftentimes, we forget that Jesus is also “Lord,” a word taken from a Hebrew word Adonai. It means master, owner, one who possess us completely and absolutely. Christ may already be our Savior but is he truly our Lord?
…continue to live your lives in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught. To root simply means to go deeper, to go farther, to exert greater, to give ourselves more and more to Christ.
Some of us may probably say at this point in our Christian faith, “Well, I’ve reached my peak. I’m done!” But are we, really?
I read in one Baptist church blogsite, “Anything that ceases to move becomes stagnant.” We cannot agree any better. No one is really “done.” Until we breathe our last, we are still a work in progress.
We have received Christ as Lord. We are taking root. Now, we must remain faithful. This is what an overflowing life is all about. It is a life that refuses to be defeated by tragedies and pain. It is a life that trusts and perseveres. It is a life that endeavors to rise in faith each and every time. It is a life that is anchored in a solid and sincere relationship with Christ, rooted in the faithfulness of God’s Word, and ever-steadfast in its commitment to walk in truth, justice, and righteousness, for the sake of others, and for the glory of God — no matter what.
