The past three meditations focused on what we should avoid as children of God. A good way to sum them all up is by focusing on the two verses we have used as lead scriptures, reading them in the Message translation. Eugene Peterson in the most creative use of words tells believers not to talk dirty or silly, noting that such talk does not fit our style. Embracing Jesus means a change of everything, including speech and style. Our style of speaking must edify hearers and glorify God at the same time.

Embracing Jesus means a change of everything, including speech and style. Our style of speaking must edify hearers and glorify God at the same time…giving thanks should be natural to believers as their mother tongues

Having listed what we must avoid, Paul rounded off his admonition with what we should do. Our preoccupation must be giving of thanks. In a rather pungent way, the author of the Message translation says, “Thanksgiving is our dialect”. In other words, giving thanks should be natural to believers as their mother tongues. There are several reasons why thanksgiving must be our lifestyle. First of all, it is a moral obligation. I hailed from a place that put a lot of emphasis on gratitude. They even built a maxim around it. They believe that someone who failed to thankfully acknowledge a kind deed is like a robber pouncing on your goods. Secondly, thanksgiving is a spiritual obligation as well. Believers make up what the Bible calls royal priesthood. Priesthood in the Old Testament required the constant slaying of animals. Jesus has set us free from that cumbersome system, yet we still have to offer something as priests. This is why the book of Hebrews says we should offer the sacrifices of praise to God. “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15 NKJV). Failure to offer thanks is a failure in our priestly duty.