Tuesday, September 5th, 2023

Scripture: Col. 1:9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

Col. 1:10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Col. 1:11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously

Col. 1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

Col. 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

Col. 1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Teaching: After last week discussing the nature of salvation and what it looks like, today we will take a look at the cause and effects of sanctification that Paul describes here. We see in verse 9 Paul pray that the Colossians would be “filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” with the first effect being, in verse 10, that they would “walk in a manner pleasing to the Lord.” Consider how any of us pleases our parents as children or employers or spouses as adults: we first must understand their expectations. Paul is a describing a relationship between us, who are called to love and serve God after the professing of our faith, and God, who has not only real expectations and instructions but also a sovereign will. Said another way, we may have free will, but that does not negate God’s will being done – just ask Joseph’s brothers in Genesis 37-45. But there is more than just serving the Lord and His will – Paul tells us that in doing this, we “please Him in all respects” which then results in us “bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” This is the life of someone who sees themselves as not part of this world, but eagerly awaiting life in the Kingdom. Seeking His will, walking in it, pleasing the Lord, bearing fruit, and increasing in understanding of His will thereby walking further in it. This is not an appeal to legalism but to right relationship, one made possible by the atoning death of Christ and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is from this point that Paul will launch into his discussion of the preeminence and sufficiency of Christ.

Takeaway: The more we see ourselves as Kingdom citizens, the more we are driven by the Spirit to live now as we will then. The difference, practically, often lies in how we speak about God’s will and our part in it. We don’t say “I can’t do X because God said no;” We say, “I won’t do X because I am a child of the King.” Walking with the Lord, pursuing His will over our own, will be rewarded, as Paul describes in 2. Corinthians 5:6-10, but we remember in this long and often arduous life, we are bought and redeemed by the blood of Christ who gives us life. That life is not the same life that we led before.