Week 10 | Day 2
SEEKING A WORTHY WALK
Colossians 1:9-12
Colossians 1:9–12 may be the most important and clarifying prayer in the Bible. In it, Paul prays that we would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom so that we might walk so worthy of the Lord in the Spirit that it’d put a smile on God’s face. This prayer moves beyond the idea of living a good life that innately so many people strive to do—being morally respectable and socially responsible in their own strength. Instead, it points to something deeper—living a God life! While a good life can be lived through personal effort, a God life can only be lived through dependence on the Spirit and alignment with God’s will.
The good life is marked by how well we live out our religion in our own ability doing things like going to church, reading our Bibles, performing spiritual disciplines, etc. The God life, while it may include some of the spiritual activities we seek to do in the good life is marked by only what the Holy Spirit in us can do through us—bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, and is being strengthened by His power. This kind of life can’t be sustained by human determination alone. It flows from an abiding life with God that produces gratitude, endurance, and joy. The Spirit-led life transforms ordinary obedience into a testimony of God’s grace.
The good life is marked by how well we live out our religion in our own ability doing things like going to church, reading our Bibles, performing spiritual disciplines, etc. The God life, while it may include some of the spiritual activities we seek to do in the good life is marked by only what the Holy Spirit in us can do through us—bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, and is being strengthened by His power. This kind of life can’t be sustained by human determination alone. It flows from an abiding life with God that produces gratitude, endurance, and joy. The Spirit-led life transforms ordinary obedience into a testimony of God’s grace.
Application
Seek God’s Guidance Rather than Relying Solely on Human Understanding
A good life may follow common sense and personal discipline but the God life begins with seeking God’s will through His Word and Spirit. We thrive in the Christian life by abiding—not in going at it alone.
Pursue a Life that Pleases the Lord.
Paul’s prayer focuses on living worthy of Christ. This is only possible by living under the influence of the Holy Spirit in an abiding life. True fulfillment comes from aligning our daily decisions with His desires and will.
Measure Your Life to the Correct Scorecard
The Christian life is measured by how nice you are, how often you go to church, or if you’re moral—it’s measured by the fruit of the Holy Spirit in you living through you. The question isn’t based on how good you are by religious standards, but by how evident it is that you are living in an intimate relationship with God.
Continually Look for the Mark of the Holy Spirit in You
Ask—Am I genuinely bearing the fruit of the Spirit? Am I growing in experiential knowledge and being strengthened by the Spirit? Do I have Holy Spirit induced patience with people and with circumstances knowing that God is aligning my life to His heart? Do I have genuine, joyful gratitude for how God is moving in my life?
Do You Treat Others the Way Jesus Treats You?
The patience Paul mentions is treating people the way Jesus treats you when others treat you the way they treated Jesus. Such love can only be accomplished by the work of the Holy Spirit in us living through us.
A good life may follow common sense and personal discipline but the God life begins with seeking God’s will through His Word and Spirit. We thrive in the Christian life by abiding—not in going at it alone.
Pursue a Life that Pleases the Lord.
Paul’s prayer focuses on living worthy of Christ. This is only possible by living under the influence of the Holy Spirit in an abiding life. True fulfillment comes from aligning our daily decisions with His desires and will.
Measure Your Life to the Correct Scorecard
The Christian life is measured by how nice you are, how often you go to church, or if you’re moral—it’s measured by the fruit of the Holy Spirit in you living through you. The question isn’t based on how good you are by religious standards, but by how evident it is that you are living in an intimate relationship with God.
Continually Look for the Mark of the Holy Spirit in You
Ask—Am I genuinely bearing the fruit of the Spirit? Am I growing in experiential knowledge and being strengthened by the Spirit? Do I have Holy Spirit induced patience with people and with circumstances knowing that God is aligning my life to His heart? Do I have genuine, joyful gratitude for how God is moving in my life?
Do You Treat Others the Way Jesus Treats You?
The patience Paul mentions is treating people the way Jesus treats you when others treat you the way they treated Jesus. Such love can only be accomplished by the work of the Holy Spirit in us living through us.
Closing Prayer
Father, help me move beyond simply living a good life and teach me to live a God-centered life. Fill me with the knowledge of Your will and guide me through Your Spirit. Strengthen me to bear fruit, persevere with joy, and give thanks for Your grace. May my life reflect Your presence and bring honor to Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.