Bob Tiede explains, “Gratitude is the shortest path to joy — it shifts our focus from what’s missing to what matters.” Gratitude is one of the great themes of the Bible. Regardless of your circumstances you can express gratitude as a Christian. Remember, Paul penned the words of our passage from prison. Colossians 3:15-17 reads, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Here, we learn there are three ways to express gratitude.

First, express gratitude inwardly. Colossians 3:15 reads, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Romans 12:4-5 reads, “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” Individually you are to express gratitude inwardly. It is a matter of the heart.

Second, express gratitude outwardly. Colossians 3:16 reads, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Someone explains, “As we humbly study God’s word, we see things more as God sees them, we recognize his grace in all things, and we can’t help but be more grateful to Him.” This is an outward expression of gratitude with “one another” and it has a positive effect on “one another” in the body of Christ. Expressing gratitude in corporate worship is a great blessing indeed!

Third, express gratitude upwardly. Colossians 3:17 reads, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” You could call this everyday “thanksliving”! The Christian life is to be marked by gratitude expressed upwardly toward God the Father through Jesus Christ. Paul warns about the danger of ingratitude in Romans 1:21, “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Ingratitude is the mark of one on the path to hell awaiting the righteous judgment of God. Paul exhorts earlier in this epistle, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7). May your life as a believer become a constant expression of gratitude!

Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, of Robertsdale, is the author of "Don't Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah.