Skip to main content

Going for Growth

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. [Colossians 1:9-10]
Paul wrote Colossians to a church he had never visited before. His purpose was to reassure them that the message of Jesus they had received and come to believe was the real deal. There was no need to look elsewhere or add to Jesus with other religious practices or rules. But how will they know that for certain?

According to Paul, the key part of this that they will experience real change! The good news of Jesus changes lives and it is growing everywhere! So early on he wants to let them know that he longs and prays for them that they continue to show evidence as followers of Jesus  by growing in their faith. Real followers of Jesus grow wherever they are!  But in what way do we grow? 

First, followers of Jesus grow to be like Jesus. Paul expresses this as living a "life worthy of the Lord". That is leading a life consistent with Jesus Christ. To be Jesus to others! Such a life will be a life pleasing to God. Where God is essentially first in our lives as he is first in the life of Jesus. It means doing things that aims to make God smile!  

When we are growing we bear good fruit for God in everything. All work in our lives become good work because it is done for God! Paul emphasises work that bears "fruit". There's a lot of good things do but only God makes things fruitful - or shine out for his glory!

Secondly, followers of Jesus grow by knowing God. Growth comes by knowing God's will in everything! Knowing is prior to doing! If we don't know what God desires of us, we can't grow! God's will speaks of his purposes, desires and intentions. It is his very self! Growth is therefore about growing intimately to know God himself. Not just facts about him! 

This knowledge comes about through "all spiritual wisdom and understanding". In short: God makes available all his boundless resources. These resources are spiritual because they are given by the Holy Spirit. These resources are wise because they are founded by Christ who is the wisdom of God, and are delivered by the Word of God. Growth not only comes with knowledge it also includes understanding. That is the practical outworking of God the Spirit and His Word in our lives!   In our day to day work we need these resources to function and grow!

Finally, followers of Jesus grow through God himself. Paul recognises that growth cannot happen unless God himself brings it about. So he asks God for it for them! Prayer is vital for growth! In prayer we surrender to God! And Paul's praying is a good example to follow - it is urgent, consistent and outwards!

If we desire to grow we must pray. If we want others to grow we must must pray! Not just talk! A key reason Paul prayed is that He had a concept of a big Jesus as he explains later in Colossians.  All Paul's prayers were big! BIG JESUS = BIG PRAYERS. Small Jesus = small prayers (and prayerlessness). 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I am what I am by Gloria Gaynor

Beverly Knight closed the opening ceremony of the Paralympics with what has been dubbed the signature tune of the Paralympics. I had no idea Ms Knight is still in the singing business. And clearly going by the raving reviews she will continue to be around. One media source says her performance was so electric that "there wasn’t a dry eye to be seen as she sang the lyrics to the song and people even watching at home felt the passion in her words" . The song was Gloria Gaynor's I am what I am . Clearly not written by Gloria Gaynor but certainly musically owned and popularized by her. It opens triumphantly: I am what I am / I am my own special creation / So come take a look / Give me the hook or the ovation / It's my world that I want to have a little pride in / My world and it's not a place I have to hide in / Life's not worth a damn till you can say I am what I am The words “I am what I am” echo over ten times in the song. A bold declaration that she ...
Post a Comment
KEEP READING →

Do Not Be Anxious

Do not be troubled if you are poor - Christ Himself had no place to lay His head. Do not let the prospect of future hard times make you anxious about how you will endure, for "you will not be ashamed in evil days, and in times of famine you will be satisfied." God has said (Psalm 37:19) therefore, you must believe it. Do not be overly concerned with securing provisions for old age, for by all appearances, you may not live to see it. It is more than likely that you will reach your journey’s end sooner than expected. Your body is frail - it is already declining, greeting decay as its mother before it has even fully entered the hall of this world. The supports of your earthly tent are being loosened little by little. Take courage, O my soul, for soon the devil, the world, and the flesh will be crushed beneath your feet, and you will be welcomed into eternal mansions.   But even if the Lord prolongs your days to old age, He who brought you forth from your mother's womb will n...
Post a Comment
KEEP READING →

The Wound of Sin

Bless the Lord, O my soul, that when you were playing with the bait, unaware of the hook like so many others, He opened your eyes—allowing you to see your folly and danger so that you might flee from it. And now, be careful that you do not grasp at any of the devil's temptations, lest he ensnare you with his hook. For though you may be restored by grace, it will not be without a wound—just as a fish sometimes escapes the hook but swims away injured. That wound may bring sorrow and take long to heal. And you have already known this to be true. THOMAS BOSTON  ( Source : The Art of Man-Fishing) A sobering truth from Thomas Boston. Sin always damages. God always restores His children when we fall but it is never without the wounds. We often carry the scars of our sins. This is another m reason for us to avoid sin altogether. Sometimes in our presumption of His grace, we tend to be antinomian. Boston is warning that such an attitude is foolish since sin always damages. It always leaves ...
Post a Comment
KEEP READING →