When my children were born, I experienced a love like no other. However, we had a scare with one of our daughters as we were getting ready to bring her home from the hospital. As I was getting her dressed, I noticed that she suddenly started turning a pale blue. My wife and I didn’t know what to do, so I ran and grabbed a nurse for help. Although she quickly recovered, apparently, she experienced something common among newborns, which shocked me and caused us to rethink our sleeping arrangements. We ended up spending the first several nights trading off holding her on our chests to keep her upright, sacrificing sleep and other priorities to ensure she got her needed rest. My love for her made me willing to do whatever it took to keep her safe. In reality, it was love that made things I used to enjoy less important. One love had replaced love for other things.
Maybe you have a story like that, where love reordered your priorities. For example, it could be a new car, a new house, a new instrument, and many more things. It could also be a new friend, a new relationship, a new child, a new social connection, a new social status, and more. Where does that love come from? God made us to love. Indeed, God designed us to ascribe value to things and people, and then to love them and those things in an understandable way.
However, the problems start to arise when we confuse our priorities and begin to love things more than we should (and more than they can bear).
We understand this on a practical level. We may see it in our jobs (when we sacrifice time with loved ones for a position). In that case, we may value money, power, or status more highly than time spent at home with family or friends. We see this in our education (when we cheat, prioritizing good grades over integrity). Here, we appreciate the scholarship money tied to a GPA or the pride of our parents, among other things, instead of character. It could be in our entertainment (when we prioritize amusement or temporary satisfaction over responsibility). In this case, we prioritize comfort, ease, and pleasure over fulfilling our duties and being dependable. Examples like these, and many more, reveal the potential problem of over-prioritizing things we ought not to love and deprioritizing things we should love.
What about in the Christian life? Is it possible to love an identity derived from public affirmation and acceptance over the identity found in Christ, leading to negative emotions and outcomes? Can we ever value adhering to a religious system that binds us to rules promising holiness instead of resting in the grace received as a result of God’s work in our lives, leading to overindulgence or hatred of others? What about valuing knowledge and winning an argument over caring for a person and their particular situation?
In the end, what’s the result? Christ and His gospel are minimized, while people are emphasized, and we become dissatisfied and discontent, i.e., ungrateful.
Put simply, we live ungrateful, empty lives when we love things more than Christ, and this is the path of disordered loves. We were designed for so much more.
How do we get back on the path of loving Christ more than anything? More than a relationship? More than a job? More than a social status? More than a religious experience? More than a holiness code? More than substances, more than voyeristic pleasure (porn), more than positions or power, or white lies, or manipulation, and more. We know we should stop, but we’re struggling to find a way out. Many of us have tried to stop doing the lesser loves cold turkey, but then we’re back at it again.
Is there a better way forward?
Thomas Chalmers, a 19th-century pastor, preached that the way to overcome deep but destructive disordered loves is not to fight them, but to embrace a greater one. In other words, to replace one love with another. The only love that truly delivers on its promise of fulfillment is love from and for Christ, leading to a grateful heart and a truly joy-filled life.
Paul knows this intimately, and in Colossians 2:6-7, he shows us how receiving Christ Jesus as Lord and walking in Him becomes the gateway to gratitude, rooting us and building us in Him, and filling our hearts with thanksgiving. Paul is writing to show that true fulfillment comes by trusting in Christ as supreme over creation and sufficient to fulfill all our desires, leading to a life of gratitude.
“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.”
Colossians 2:6-7
One key point, three observations, and an application.
Key Point 1: Replacing false teaching with the gospel of Jesus Christ leads to gratitude.
What are the false teachings Paul is dealing with? Colossians 2:8 (philosophy, empty deception, tradition of men, and elementary principles of the world) and Colossians 2:20-23 (decrees, commandments, teachings of men, having appearance of wisdom, but no value against fleshly indulgence).
What is Paul’s solution? The gospel of Jesus Christ.
In other words, Paul is not suggesting that they combat heresies by highlighting their flaws, which he could have done. Instead, he’s fighting the heresies by proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ more clearly, focusing on the Christians identity in Christ more definitively, and demonstrating how their deepest longings are satisfied in Christ alone.
The outcome of receiving and living this truth is gratitude!
Observation 1: Receiving Christ Jesus the Lord
This first observation has three elements. The first element relates to defining the word ‘receive’. The second element refers to the Lordship of Christ. Finally, the third element is regarding the synthesis of the first two.
First, the word Paul uses, “receive,” has two meanings. The first meaning relates to receiving a spiritual heritage or tradition, and the second refers to receiving something that takes jurisdiction over you or has control over you. Combining these two ideas, we can generally define this word as receiving something akin to a tradition with the authority to govern. Next, grammatically, we must understand the object of this verb, which is Christ Jesus, the Lord, leading to our second point.
Second, notice that Paul did not say “Christ Jesus, the prophet, teacher, or good moral man.” Instead, Paul ascribed the only category available to Christ, having already eloquently articulated in chapter 1, as the Lord. In other words, the only title worthy of Christ’s name is Lord. He is Sovereign. He is the Creator, Sustainer, and Reconciler of these Colossian Christians, and Paul says that they received Him as such, which leads to our final element.
Third, when combining these two connotations, we may generally interpret this word in relation to Christ Jesus the Lord, as the Colossian Christians, having received Christ, rejected all other titles for Christ, and received Him as the Lord of all their lives.
Observation 2: Walking in Christ in the same manner He was received
This second observation has three aspects. The first relates to the significance of walking in Christ as Paul’s first command of the letter. The second refers to the definition of walking in Christ. Finally, the third aspect shows the Divine enabling that provides a Christian with the basis of fulfilling this command.
We come to the first aspect, and immediately see what many call a “hermeneutical landmark.” What does that mean? In essence, this means that whether in grammar, word repetition, or more, the author is making a significant point. In this case, Paul introduces his first command of the letter (there will be over 20 commands throughout). This is significant because it serves as a hinge in the letter, transitioning from theological statements to practical applications. In other words, this section begins Paul’s working out of foundational doctrines of Christ in everyday life, which leads to our second element.
Second, what does his first command entail? In this command, Paul is concerned that the Christians in Colossae walk in Christ. That is to say that they so order their lives that a pattern of Christlikeness dominates all their endeavors. The word “walk” refers to a lifestyle or holistic pattern of life. In short, Paul is calling them to a lifestyle of reflecting Christ in their daily lives. It follows that this is impossible without Divine enabling, and that leads to our third aspect.
In this final aspect, Paul lays out three passive participles that support his point that for the walking in Christ to be accomplished, it must be divinely enabled. No human can generate the kind of grace needed to fulfill his command. And so, Paul says that this is possible because they (1) have been firmly rooted and are now being built up in Christ and (2) they are being established in their faith. Put another way, the foundation upon which these Christians (and Christians today) build a life characterized by Christ is in Christ Himself. Our strength is sourced in Him, not any other teaching, good moral standards, traditions, or philosophies. Only Christ.
Observation 3: Receiving instruction, leading to gratitude.
Finally, this third observation also has three components. The first relates to defining the word instruction, the second refers to the role of the local church in instructing, and finally, we examine the fruit of instruction and receiving Christ.
First, the word instruction here means to teach. It carries a connotation similar to catechesis, and is expressed in the passive voice. This means that the teaching is something the Colossian Christians “received,” sort of like the concept of receiving Christ discussed earlier. Also, the tense is in the aorist, implying a one-time complete act in the past. In other words, they received teaching, and it was sufficient or complete. Thus, this word instruction relates to the gospel teaching Epaphras had presented to them, and they received. It was adequate for their salvation, conversion, and more. They had become Christians as a result of this teaching (Rom. 10).
Second, this instruction appears to have occured in the context of the local church, and Paul continues to guide this local church with instruction. While gospel teaching and instruction occur outside the church (Acts 19 and more), it’s nevertheless the guiding content by which a local church forms and continues. Consequently, Paul is going to say in 1 Timothy 3:15b “…which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” This teaching is not inert; it has fruit, and Paul describes one aspect of that fruit in the lives of those who have received it.
The third component of instruction is its fruit, which is gratitude. When we think of gratitude, we’re immediately confronted with the concept of humility and contentment. Regarding humility, gratitude arises from a recognition of one’s own limitations, inadequacies, or insufficiencies. For instance, genuine gratitude is expressed toward something or someone when you’re the recipient of something or someone that you cannot generate, manufacture, buy, or create otherwise. Thus, gratitude flows from a deep appreciation for being given something or someone that would not be there. Additionally, contentment flows out of gratitude, as it accepts (not resigns itself to) the circumstances of the gift(s) being received. For instance, when someone receives $1,000 from someone else, humility is willing to accept it, and contentment doesn’t wish for more. Thus, humility and contentment support genuine gratitude. As it relates to a human’s salvation, this is the ultimate gift (sinners reconciled to a holy God), stimulating the highest expression of gratitude (coupled with humility and contentment).
Application
As we consider these three observations, namely, (1) receiving Jesus Christ the Lord, (2) walking in Christ, and (3) receiving instruction, leading to gratitude, we will observe three applications. The first relates to Christ as the gateway to gratitude, the second refers to focus and movement, and the third relates to problems gratitude addresses.
Christ, the Gateway to Gratitude.
Ultimate thankfulness is found in having been reconciled to God through Christ by grace through faith. Man, left to himself, is helpless and hopeless. No other religion offers a God who became man to satisfy wrath for sin against a holy God and send Himself to change the nature of man, making them fit for fellowship with Him.. Only God is just and the justifier, offering mankind the most incredible gift, solving the problem of their greatest need. Only the Triune God, before the foundations of the world, in His sovereign grace, loved His creation so much that He sent His Son to die in their place, taking the penalty of their sin, and sent His Spirit to regenerate their souls, making them fit dispositionally for eternal fellowship with Him. This was accomplished through Christ’s work on the cross and His resurrection from the grave.
The only response: Thank You…Thank You…Thank You, my Lord and my God. Christ is the gateway to gratitude.
Action item: Take time this week to write one thing you’re thankful for at the beginning of the day and one thing you’re grateful for at the end of the day. Do this for 7 days straight.
Focus and Movement.
Paul’s command to walk in Christ is possible only through divine enablement (being rooted, built up, and established), which is the foundation for following through with a life that honors God and serves others. Therefore, our focus and movement toward fulfilling this imperative is to focus on Christ and move in His strength supplied by His Spirit. We do this by reading His Word, praying, and confessing our sin. We also do this in a community of believers who are willing to encourage us, not compete, and call us to God’s way, not flatter.
Action item: Set aside 30 minutes each morning for 7 days straight and read the passages provided below. Identify one verse that stands out to you and write out a prayer from that verse that recognizes how Christ perfectly fulfills the verse you’ve identified and your need for divine enablement to walk in the same manner.
Gratitudes Solutions.
On the one hand, gratitude can be seen as an emotion, offering antidotes to many practical negative feelings. For example, when I’m grateful, I’m not frustrated, I’m not sad, and more. However, on the other hand, gratitude also replaces spiritual conditions that often cause ruts and adverse outcomes in our lives. What do I mean?
- Day 1: Gratitude is a replacement for worry.
- Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7
- Day 2: Gratitude is a replacement for discontentment.
- 1 Timothy 6:6-8; Hebrews 13:5
- Day 3: Gratitude is a replacement for fear.
- Psalm 56:3-4; Isaiah 41:10
- Day 4: Gratitude is a replacement for doubt.
- Hebrews 11; Psalm 9:10
- Day 5: Gratitude is a replacement for grumbling.
- Philippians 2:14-15; Ephesians 4:31-32
- Day 6: Gratitude is a replacement for pride
- James 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:18
- Day 7: Gratitude is a replacement for worldliness.
- Romans 1:21-23; Galatians 5:24-26
Conclusion
Christ’s movement toward us (incarnation and cross) caused Him to be uprooted, torn down, and not established (Phil. 2), so that we would be (by grace through faith in Him) firmly rooted, built up, and established in God.
Lord, help us to walk in this truth and reality every day. Amen.
— September 25, 2025