The Ordinary Rhythm of Grace and Gratitude

Robert Kolb on the life of faith as a life of thankfulness.

Photo by Abhishek Koli on Unsplash

A prominent theme in Paul’s letter to the Colossians is the gratitude that the gospel of grace engenders in those who believe. The good news of Christ’s death and resurrection for sinners is an effervescent message, one that imbues believers with hearts pervaded with thankfulness, so much so that thanksgiving spills out of them and onto those around them. This, ideally and properly speaking, is what life in the community of faith is supposed to look like — namely, sinner-saints whose lives are contoured to the grace and gratitude permeating the message of the gospel. The point is, though, that gratitude isn’t a coercible emotion or response (as I explained in a recent essay). Once the giver strong-arms a thankful reaction out of the recipient, any sense of giving is undone. Forcing someone to be thankful for what you’ve given them ruins the gift.

Biblically, gratitude is a nurtured response that arises through repeated offerings of the unspeakable gift of Christ himself. More specifically, it isn’t a one-time reaction — rather, it’s a way of life. Indeed, the life of faith is one that abounds in thanksgiving (Col. 2:7) precisely because the gospel of grace, the greatest gift of all, is continually offered and re-offered. This is the assertion Robert Kolb, a Lutheran professor and theologian, makes in an essay published earlier this year for 1517:

Gratitude or thankfulness is more than an act, a single reaction. Gratitude and thankfulness denote the very condition and state of the mind that has been turned to Christ and fashioned in His likeness. Faith in our Lord creates a reaction of all-engulfing appreciation for our salvation. His saving work opens our eyes and ears to all His other blessings. We recognize in faith that gratitude stems from God’s grace, from His graciousness. Gratitude is the reasonable reaction to His grace.

The absurdity of Christ’s gospel is that instead of imposing requisite duties, it bestows and engenders delight. It dispossesses us of any sense of mustering up enough thankfulness on our own, and instead just welcomes us to receive again and again. Sunday after Sunday, time after time, whenever the Word is opened, sinners and saints are invited to hear and revel in the outrageous gift of Christ for them. It is this announcement that generates gratitude in the hearts of those who believe and allows thanksgiving to be the ordinary rhythm of all Christian faith and practice. Gratitude started and sustained by the tireless rehearsal of God’s good news: that his Son died for sinners, for you, and rose for their justification. I already can’t wait to hear that news again.

Grace and peace to you, my friends.