The Walk that Pleases the Lord

Currently our students are walking through a study of the book of Colossians.  This past week we looked at Colossians 1:9-10 which says:

⁹And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Many of us are curious and have asked ourselves the question 'How do I please God?'  I love that Paul in verse 10 clearly states what that walk, in other words our conduct, should look like.  He gives us two things:

1. That we bear fruit in every good work, and
2. That we increase in the knowledge of God

Lets start with number two.  Increasing in the knowledge of God means that we continue to grow in our understanding of who God is.  We do this by looking at Jesus who is God.  His earthly life is recorded and we can see the character and nature of God by looking at Jesus.  Hebrews 1:3 says 'He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature...'  To know God you must have a relationship with Him.  Only when I have relationship with Jesus can I imitate Him.  Our imitation of Jesus leads us to number one listed above.

We must bear fruit in every good work.  The common misconception is that I do good works to earn God's favor, to earn His love.  This is totally false.  This is called religion and Jesus hates religion.  This is what he continues to preach to the Pharisees.  Matthew 23 is a perfect example of Jesus calling out the Pharisees for religion, an outward expression that is not matched by a heart that is transformed by the grace and mercy of Jesus.

The reason we started with number two and then looked at number one is because knowledge of God leads to bearing fruit in every good work.  Good works never leads to a knowledge of God.  When we know God and grow in our understanding of Him, then we see the example of Jesus and emulate His life, our good works.  Jesus speaks of the judgment where people stand before God and ask why their good works don't get them into heaven and he replies "Because I don't know you," in other words, "We don't have relationship."

Take a moment today to make sure you are walking in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him.  Are you trying to earn His favor through attendance, good works, or generosity?  Understand that Jesus wants relationship first. He wants your whole heart, to be your first love.  Have you slipped into the lie of earning His love or do you rest in His love and the knowledge of His character and as a result grow to look more like Him?

Our 40 days prayer and fasting is coming to a close.  Are you focused on the fact that you haven't eaten a food?  Are you focused on whatever thing you might have given up? Are you proud of what you have done?  Watch out!!  You may have 1 and 2 reversed above.  Or, have you grown these past days in your knowledge and understanding of who Jesus is and the necessary sustaining power that He is for our very life.  If you have incorrectly switched the priorities above take the last few days of our fast to finish strong.

It's all about Jesus and never about us!

Blessings,

Patrick