"...having been rooted and being built up in Him and being confirmed to the faith just as you were taught, overflowing in thanksgiving."
-'Being confirmed’ here is to cause something to be known as certain. In this case, we are talking about the verification of these Colossians faith, that they have truly trusted in and are following Jesus. The most direct sign of this will be overflowing thanksgiving. Yes, the surest sign that a person is following Christ is a heart of gratitude. When things are good, most assuredly, but also and particularly when things go wrong. When things don’t happen the way I wanted. Even when I don’t get my preference. In persecution and hardship and illness and poverty - there is irrepressible joy and hope and peace which eclipse the human experience and defy any earthly explanation. Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail are perfect illustrations of this (Act 16.22-25). They had been publicly humiliated, severely beaten and unjustly imprisoned - and yet deep into the night, they were singing. And no dirge, this - their hearts were full of praise to God. Theirs was a contagion that spread thru the prison to the other prisoners, to the jailer and his entire family, throughout the city and the region and beyond, infectious gratitude flowing out of true faith. Yes, thanksgiving overflowed out of their hearts, it was unnatural, unearthly, and it was uncontainable. The heart of the redeemed is an amazonian river of gratitude, flowing wide and strong and washing over its banks with regularity. Or should be...
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