And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. Colossians1:10-12
The prayer rock that Paul threw into the pond was that the Colossians would know God's will through spiritual wisdom and understanding. In other words that we would change from the INside OUT. That from the core of our being to the work of our fingertips we would be motivated by the desire to do what God wants.
Now Paul describes the ripples of this rock thrown into the pond of our lives. And I really only need to list them for you to see how important the rock - the idea of God's will at work INside us - is:
1.We will live a life worthy of the Lord (People will see Jesus in us)
2.We will please him in every way: i.e.
---> Growing in the knowledge of God
---> Being strengthened with all power so that we will have great endurance and patience
3.We will give thanks with joy for all He has done for us...
So, according to Paul, when we know and act on God's will, our lives will be pleasing and honouring to God, we will know Him better, receive the strength that helps us to endure and be infused with great gratitude for all He has done for us.
Do you want joy and an attitude of gratitude to infuse your life?
Do you want to have an enduring faith?
Do you want to know God better (to learn about Him as you walk with Him)?
Do you want to live a life pleasing to Him?
Then understand this:
It is all wrapped up in the prayer that Jesus prayed in Gethsemane:
"Not my will, but Yours be done."
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
