Colossians 1:9-12

And 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, so 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; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

 

The burning desires of every believer should be to live in a way that is pleasing to God.  This is Paul’s prayer for the church and should be our prayer for one another.  Paul’s prayer provides some key insights into what we should value in our lives as we seek to please God and what a live that is pleasing to God looks like.

 

PREREQUISITES TO PLEASING GOD: If we desire to live in a way that is pleasing to God, we must first know what God’s will is.  Knowing God’s will require the study of His Word and having spiritual wisdom and understanding.  This kind of wisdom comes from spiritual sensitivity to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives as well as fellowship and counsel from the body of Christ.  Scripture instructs us to pray and seek for wisdom.  These are keys to understanding God’s will and will allow us to walk worthy of the Lord.  In short, pleasing the Lord means to understand and obey His will.  When we study God’s Word, are sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit, counsel with other believers, and live according to what we learn from these sources; we will live a life that is pleasing to Him.

 

PRACTICES THAT ARE PLEASING TO GOD: The specific practices that are pleasing to God would include bearing fruit in every good work.  What does it mean to bear fruit?  Certainly the “fruit of the Spirit:” love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, would be an interesting place to start.  These character qualities are vital to pleasing God.  However, beyond these qualities, there seems to be a call to serve others as we practice “every good work.”  Pleasing God involves loving others, edifying others, teaching others, and spreading the Gospel to others.  Another practice is growing in knowledge of God.  We must never become stagnant in our growth and walk with God.  God is pleased with us when we depend on the Spirit to strengthen us instead of thinking we can accomplish these things in our own strength.  Only He can equip us to serve with endurance, patience, and joy.  When we try to do things in our own strength, we will usually end up quitting, getting frustrated and see it as a duty instead of a delight.  Finally, pleasing God requires that we be thankful to God.  He has saved us and is transforming us to be conformed to the image of Christ.

 

APPLICATION: Study God’s Word out of a desire to know His will.  Pray for wisdom and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.  Seek counsel from godly and wise brothers and sisters in Christ.  Obey what we learn from these sources.  Grow in biblical character.  Love and serve others.  Depend on the power of God and not our own.  Be thankful.

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