Colossians 1:9,10 – “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
Paul heard something about the Colossians that grabbed his heart. Verse 4 tells us that he had heard about their faith in Christ and their love for God’s people. These are two marked qualities of New Testament believers. How is your faith in Christ and love for God’s people today?
This news causes Paul to carry the Colossians on his heart. His unceasing prayer for them has five targets:
TARGET #1 – Filled With The Knowledge Of His Will. One of the most important things we can know in this life is the will of God. Not just the general will of God as revealed in His word, but also His specific will as revealed by His Spirit. This involves life’s choices and decisions. May you be filled with that knowledge!
TARGET #2 – Walk Worthy Of The Lord. Our manner of life needs to be on such a level that gives glory to God and is worthy of the calling as a believer. For all He’s done for us He deserves a life from us that is fully dedicated to Him.
TARGET #3 – Fully Pleasing Him. This really needs no commentary. May our lives be fully pleasing to Him.
TARGET #4 – Being Fruitful In Every Good Work. Do you feel like what you do is bearing fruit? One of the keys to fruitfulness, according to Jesus in John chapter 15, is being connected to Him. Stay connected and you will be fruitful. Connected in prayer, connected in His word, connected in worship, and connected in fellowship of other believers.
TARGET #5 – Increasing In The Knowledge of God. I like this. As we survey our lives we should see a pattern of growth. If you put our lives on a graph there would be times when things level off and maybe even decline. But overall where we are now should be vastly different from where we started. How’s your graph looking today and are you growing?