week of 4/12/11 4th recorded HighQuest Colossians 1:3-12

The passage I read was Colossians 1:3-12

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1%3A3-12&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

10 “so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,”

As I reflect:

Me and my wife agreed on several things about this passage. 1 – the sentences are very long. Lol 2 – Paul is good at building people up to break them down and then build them up even more. 3 – the breaking down part of Paul’s message here, is also an edification and prayer for growth. We will be focusing on #3 for the reflection time.

Paul says in the 2^nd paragraph that he continually asks God to fill them with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that they may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way. That’s where we placed our reflection time. How does one please the Lord?

I know without faith it is impossible to please the Lord. So Paul’s next portion of the sentence and prayer should automatically include faith. He goes on to say “bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God”. This can be simplified as “bearing fruit in good works and continuing to learn in our walk is a good way to please our Lord”. I think (as simple as that sounds) it is important to remember by whose strength this is done. The previous verse says, “God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,”. Which is to say that we don’t simply run out the front door now and start doing whatever we consider to be good works so that we may please the Lord. Instead, we must study prayerfully that the Holy Spirit would teach us and grant us the wisdom to properly use what is learned to do God’s will. The Spirit gives this wisdom. Then in verse 11 it says, “being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,”. Which is to say that not only do we need wisdom and knowledge from the Holy Spirit, but we also need strength to endure and be patient. Again this implies that we aren’t simply born with a natural ability and understanding to run out into the world and do as the Lord wills. It requires study, reflection, prayer, patience, and a great deal more as discussed in the word (all of which is given from His Holy Spirit if we but seek and ask of right motive). The end of this portion of scripture has Paul giving “joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you” and I think that is something for us to take from this as well. We should communicate a gratefulness and a joy that He by His Holy Spirit has answered us in providing the things needed to do His will. It’s not supposed to look like or be a heavy yoke, but a joyous one where we can partake in a greater good and a greater inheritance. God doesn’t force us to please Him, it’s an opportunity that we are allowed should we desire it. I desire to please God and so I must daily bear fruit in every good work and give thanks to Him who empowered and allowed every good work to be done.

My response to the Lord:

Holy Father, I thank you for your Holy Spirit here abiding in us. I thank you that you provide all of the knowledge and wisdom needed to do your will. I know you are strengthening me because strengthening isn’t comfortable and for the same reason I know that you are building my patience. I am thankful to be a part of that great plan that you have set in motion and I look forward to sharing in the inheritance that is to follow this life, that I may spend eternity with the You. Until that time Father, I pray you be pleased with my good works and that you receive all the glory due your name. In Jesus name, amen.