By Paul Hammons
February 17, 2019
In Colossians 1:3-12, Paul makes an introductory statement to a group of Christians he’s never met in person, but whose faith and works had come to his attention over time. In the last part of the passage, he expresses his prayer for the Colossians “that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.”
We don’t typically think of ourselves of being “worthy” of anything in our relationship to God. After all, we’re saved by grace, not our own works of righteousness. We know that “while we were enemies” with God, Jesus came to die for our sins (Romans 5;10.) However, our lives, our decisions, our conduct all reflect our hearts in response to the gift we’ve been given. And the Gospel demands a reaction of gratitude and worship to the God who saved us, and “called us with a holy calling” (2 Timothy 1:9.)
Paul outlines three areas in which we can live worthy lives, having been filled with knowledge of his will:
- “Fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work:” A worthy life doesn’t serve God halfway, or selectively. Our gratitude drives us to grow in our service to God, finding new ways to bear fruit according to God’s word. We can’t live a Christian life when we segment out areas where we serve God and areas we reserve to live like the world around us.
- “Strengthened for all endurance and patience:” For us to live fully for God, we will need endurance, but God provides us with the strength we need to outlast persecution, difficulty, and temptation.
- “Qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints:” When we fix our minds on the reward to come, remembering all that God has promised us, we see a value in our lives that reminds us we’re not working in vain. We don’t serve God out of compulsion, but rather with joy.
When we look at our lives, we ought to always ask ourselves:
- Am I walking worthy of God in what occupies my time and energy?
- Am I walking worthy of God in what I care most about?
- Am I walking worthy of God in my associations?
- Am I walking worthy of God in the goals I set for my life?
- Am I walking worthy of God by surrendering my will to God?
