Wednesday August 18, 2010

Read Colossians 1:9-10

Life changing! That’s probably a good way to describe the Christian faith. If it’s not life changing (see James 2) it’s not genuine Christian faith. What Paul prays for the Colossians is a life changing faith. This is powerful stuff.

Paul’s prayer is spelt out for us in vs 9. In vs 10 he shows us why he prays it. He gives us the outcome or the desired effect of praying. There are four outcomes in vs 10 alone:-

• that you may live a life worthy of the Lord - Paul is praying that the Colossians live out their faith day by day in a way worthy of the name of Jesus. As a believer, God wants you to live, to act, to think in ways that are befitting a Christian. Words like holy, righteous, sinless, loving, generous come to mind.


• that you may please Him in every way. To please God we must have faith (Heb 11:6) and we need to walk in obedience.  We know what God is pleased with as we read the Scriptures and grow in knowledge of His will.


• that you may bear fruit in every good work. A fruitless Christian really is a contradiction. God wants you and has equipped you to bear much fruit, fruit that will last. God has prepared good works in advance for you to get involved in. God wants you to shine for him each and every day, in every situation.


• that you may  grow in the knowledge of God.  As you live out the will of God for your life, you approve of His good and perfect will. The cycle grows and you are more determined, more eager to live out His will. You grow in holiness and Christ-likeness as you grow in the knowledge of God. Knowledge of God was never meant to be head knowledge that is merely stored as information. It was always meant to be lovingly applied to and in our lives.

Prayer:-

ü Praying vs 9-10 for those in your congregation is a powerful thing to be doing. Spend time now praying this for as many people as you can.

ü Pray that our brothers and sisters in Vietnam would be strengthened and given perseverance as they live for Christ. Pray that they would endure the persecution and rejoice in God’s love even as they suffer. Pray that we would be able to physically and practically help them in their sufferings.