Thankful for Jesus: Gratitude Rooted in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus is supreme creator, sustainer, and reconciler.

Paul declares that Christ is above all—visible and invisible, thrones and authorities—and that everything was created through and for Him; this truth reorients gratitude away from seasonal blessings to a Savior who is preeminent, worthy of daily thanks because He is the reason everything exists and the One who reconciles all things to Himself. [37:39]

Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Reflection: Name one decision, relationship, habit, or dream where you have made something else “preeminent” over Jesus; what is one concrete step you will take today (a short prayer, a conversation, or a schedule change) to re-center that area on Christ?

Day 2: Jesus saves, redeems, and forgives completely.

The transfer from darkness into the kingdom of God is a finished work in Christ—He delivered, redeemed, and forgave—so gratitude begins at the cross where past failures and present guilt are nailed and one receives new identity and ongoing freedom in Him. [41:14]

Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV)
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Reflection: Identify one specific memory, habit, or area of guilt you keep avoiding; bring it to the cross in prayer right now, confess it aloud, and then text or call one trusted believer asking them to pray for you today about that very thing.

Day 3: In Christ all things hold together.

Life’s plans, moods, and failing circumstances do not ultimately keep the world or one’s life intact—Jesus does; when things feel like they are falling apart, the right response is to stop trying to hold it all alone and to intentionally pull Jesus back into that area so He can sustain and redirect what is broken. [43:03]

Colossians 1:17 (ESV)
17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Reflection: Choose one specific area you are trying to manage by yourself (finances, a plan, a relationship, or an anxious mood); pause, pray a short prayer handing it to Jesus, and set one practical follow-up step you will take in the next 24 hours to let Him lead (call, meet, cancel, or act).

Day 4: His blood brings lasting peace with God.

Peace from the cross is not a fleeting emotion or circumstantial calm but a standing, reconciled relationship with God through the blood of Christ; true gratitude springs from that settled peace, not from temporary comforts the world offers. [47:22]

Colossians 1:20 (ESV)
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Reflection: Name one situation or relationship that robs you of peace; pray for courage, then take one tangible step today toward reconciliation or resolution (send a message of apology, ask for forgiveness, forgive silently, or arrange a conversation) to move toward the peace Christ bought.

Day 5: Respond: bring sin, surrender, and be baptized.

The call is practical—bring your hurts, habits, and hang-ups to the cross, surrender them, and step into the newness Christ offers (including baptism); freedom from complaint and addiction begins with that honest, immediate action of coming to Jesus and receiving His cleansing and new life. [59:27]

Romans 6:4 (ESV)
4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Reflection: If you are holding back from surrender or still trapped by complaining or an addiction, take one step today: come forward for prayer, contact a pastor or two godly men for help, or sign up for baptism—decide which step and do it before the day ends.

Sermon Summary

Day 30. We’ve been learning to replace grumbling with gratitude, and even a bumper sticker reminded me to honor Jesus when no one’s watching. I’m genuinely thankful for our Westside family—you make me grateful every day. As we step into Advent, everything centers on Jesus. Colossians 1 tells us He is the image of the invisible God, the Creator of all things, the One who holds all things together, and the One who reconciles us to God. You can enjoy blessings without Him, but you can’t know deep, durable gratitude apart from Him. The world’s gratitude is seasonal; ours is supernatural because the object of our thanks—the Savior—never changes.

I’m thankful for Jesus because He saved me. He delivered me from darkness, redeemed me, and forgave me. Gratitude starts at the cross, where we nail our sin, shame, and habits and receive life we couldn’t earn. If all He ever did was save me, He would still deserve my thanks forever.

I’m thankful for Jesus because He holds my life together. We were created through Him and for Him—wanted, not accidental. Every time I tell God, “I’ve got this,” I discover I don’t. My life isn’t held together by perfect circumstances but by a perfect Savior.

I’m thankful for Jesus because He gave me peace. Not a fragile feeling or a generic knockoff, but real peace with God, purchased by His blood. You can’t buy it, manufacture it, or find it anywhere else.

And I’m thankful for Jesus because He gives me purpose. Before Christ, I drifted; now I wake up knowing I was made for Him. That purpose turns even a room with a chronic complainer into a ministry moment. We don’t exist for comfort or applause; we aim at Jesus and let our dreams align with Him.

If you’re stuck in a cycle of complaining or any addiction, don’t promise to fix yourself tomorrow. Bring it to Jesus today. And if you haven’t come to Him yet, come as you are. He’ll do the fixing.

Key Takeaways

1. Gratitude anchored in an unchanging Savior Deep gratitude doesn’t rise and fall with our circumstances; it rests on the character of Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. When the season shifts or the news turns, your thanks can stand because its foundation doesn’t move. A steady Savior produces steady gratitude. [38:10]
2. Jesus rescues, redeems, and forgives We weren’t “mostly okay” without Him—we were dead in sin and unable to save ourselves. Jesus transfers us from darkness to His kingdom, forgiving what we cannot undo. Gratitude grows when we remember where He found us and what He paid to bring us home. [41:14]
3. Christ holds my life together Life frays at the edges—plans change, roofs leak, and hearts ache. But Jesus upholds what we cannot, and invites us to stop pretending we’re enough on our own. Resting in His hold frees us from frantic control and fuels true thanksgiving. [43:03]
4. Peace with God through the cross Real peace isn’t a mood; it’s a restored relationship secured by His blood. The world wants peace without repentance, but Jesus offers reconciliation, not just relief. Grateful hearts flow from hearts at peace with God. [47:22]
5. Purpose: made by Him, for Him We don’t exist for comfort, applause, or aimless hustle; we exist for Christ. When He is the target, even ordinary moments become meaningful ministry. Purpose clarifies decisions, strengthens endurance, and deepens joy. [49:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Colossians 1:15–20 — 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Observation Questions

What names or roles for Jesus does Paul list in Colossians 1:15–20? Which one stands out to you right now?
What does the phrase “in him all things hold together” describe about Jesus’ relationship to creation?
The pastor said true gratitude is rooted in the Savior who never changes. Why does he argue that gratitude based on circumstances will fade? [38:10]
Paul connects reconciliation and peace to the cross. What specific words in v. 20 describe how that peace is accomplished? [41:14]

Interpretation Questions

How should a believer interpret “in him all things hold together” when their job, plans, or relationships are unraveling? [43:03]
What does “making peace by the blood of his cross” imply about the difference between the world’s idea of peace and the peace Jesus gives? [47:22]
How might the church view the chronic complainer as an opportunity for ministry instead of merely a problem? [50:35]
What does calling Jesus “firstborn from the dead” contribute to a Christian’s hope when facing suffering or loss?

Application Questions

Name a specific complaint you said or thought this week. How will you “nail” that complaint to the cross and bring it to Jesus instead of letting it start your day? Be specific about when and how you will do it. [42:15]
When you hear yourself say “I’ve got this,” what one practical step will you take this week to let Jesus hold that area (example: a 2-minute prayer each morning, asking one friend to pray with you, or handing the decision to God in writing)? [45:09]
Think of one relationship or circumstance that normally robs you of gratitude. What is one concrete thing you will do this week to choose gratitude rooted in Christ (a prayer, a gratitude list focused on what Christ has done, a conversation with a friend)? [39:33]
The pastor suggested approaching the chronic complainer with something to be thankful for. The next time you meet that person, what exactly will you say or do to point them to Jesus? Make a short script or plan now. [50:35]
If complaining has become a habit that feels like an addiction, will you take one tangible step this week toward help (for example: meet with two godly men, ask for prayer after service, join an accountability group)? State which step and when you will do it. [54:55]
If you are not yet a follower of Jesus, what is one next step you will take this week (talk with a believer, come forward for prayer, attend a Bible class, or begin reading the gospel)? Commit to the day and person you will tell about that step. [56:06]

Sermon Clips

``So the truth of it is, is we can enjoy some blessings without Jesus. However, you cannot know true gratitude unless you know who Christ is. Blessings without Jesus may last a day. Blessings when you know Jesus will last a lifetime. The one thing that we should have learned in the last 30 days is gratitude isn't rooted in circumstances. It's rooted in the Savior who never changes. Everything that we have as a Christian is, we have hope, we have forgiveness, we have peace, we have salvation, we have eternal life, and all of those things that I just listed off comes only through Christ, only comes through Jesus. [00:37:42] (50 seconds) #GratefulInChrist

So our gratitude begins and ends and it all lives in him. The world's gratitude is seasonal. You know, one thing that I feel sorry for are the people that are not Christians and they say, I'm just going to be happy in November and I'm going to find gratitude in 30 days. And after that, they go back to the same old life that they've had. So the world's gratitude is seasonal. As Christians, our gratitude is supernatural. So the challenge was for 30 days of no complaint, but the real challenge is that we become Christians that are thankful 365 days a year. [00:38:33] (45 seconds)

So let's get real. When we're not walking with Jesus, we are not mostly okay. When we don't have Jesus in our lives, we are not okay. The Bible actually says that when we're not walking with Jesus, we're dead to sin. When we're not walking with Jesus, we're hopeless, we're lost, and we're spiritually blind, and we're unable to save ourselves. But then, if you're a Christian today, and you're saved, then Jesus comes along, and He rescued you. [00:41:24] (35 seconds)

He comes along, sometimes He just comes out of the blue, and He rescues you, He redeemed you, He forgave you, and He made you alive. And you want a reason to be thankful? We'll start at the cross. We come to the cross. And Paul says it like this. Paul says that we should die on the same cross that Christ died on. That we bring our sin to that cross. We bring our hurts, habits, and hang-ups to that cross. We bring everything to that cross, and we nail them to the cross. [00:41:59] (37 seconds)

Everything after that in our lives as Christians is going to be bonus. So, if all Jesus ever did was save me, He'd still deserve my gratitude forever. If that was the only thing that Jesus ever did was save me from death and sin, I would be forever grateful. But it's kind of like those old commercials. But wait, there's more. When we're saved, there's more. [00:42:38] (25 seconds)

But the world says that gratitude comes from having a perfect life. The world says that, well, if your life is perfect, then you can be thankful for that. And there's probably a whole bunch of books out there to how to have a perfect life. However, the Bible says gratitude comes from having a perfect Savior. The world says gratitude comes from a perfect life. The Bible says that our gratitude as Christians comes from having a perfect Savior. [00:46:26] (31 seconds)

So my life is not held together by my circumstances, it's held together by Christ. And that's the way we should all be. Point three, I'm thankful for Jesus because He gave me peace. Colossians 1.20, making peace by the blood of His cross. This isn't a temporary peace. This isn't an emotional peace. It's not a peace by circumstance. It's a real peace with God. [00:46:56] (30 seconds)

With God, it's not generic. With Jesus, it's not generic. When you have a relationship with Jesus, your peace, your circumstances, your hope, all of that is name brand. It's the best quality that you can get. When you walk your life with Jesus, you're walking in name brand. And there's nothing generic about it. You can't manufacture that. You can't earn it. And you can't find it anywhere else. You can't buy gratitude on Amazon. You can't buy happiness on Amazon. You may buy some things that are nice. But having Christ is the greatest thing that you can have in your life. [00:48:27] (54 seconds)

So, wake up in the morning and we should say, I'm here, Lord. I'm here. What do you want me to do today? If you don't know your purpose, start it with your Savior. Go back to the cross. Here's the truth. Your life may be falling apart. Your circumstances can be disappointing. Maybe you've been praying about something and it's just not happening. Your days can feel heavy. But if you have Jesus, you still have a reason to be thankful because Jesus is our Savior, our peace, our anchor, our hope, our purpose, and our life. [00:53:21] (54 seconds)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What makes Christian gratitude different from the world?

How does Jesus hold all things together daily?

Why is true peace inseparable from repentance?