“…giving thanks to the Father...” Colossians 1:12a
Those who walk in the will of God are to be joyful thankful. This thankfulness is a heartfelt, genuine thankfulness that grows out of the experience of our salvation. We must never forget what God has done for us, and we should allow that life-changing experience to bring daily joy. God is to be thanked because he qualified us for an inheritance (1:12); he rescued us from darkness (1:13a); and he brought us into the Son’s kingdom (1:13b). We need to be consciously aware of our salvation; and we need to continually thank God for it.
