Good morning!
Greetings in the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: … (Colossians 1:10-12)
I was searching for a verse for 2016 for about an week. Yesterday, I came across the above verses. This verse loud and clearly told that what I should do as a believer — live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way. The verse convicted me too, which immediately led to a question to myself: Did I really live a life worthy of the Lord in 2015? A shame fell on me. Soon, I was able to hear a voice, which comforted me. That was a voice of my Lord, who loved me unconditionally. I humbly bowed down before Him, and received His renewing grace and peace. Praise the Lord! His mercy endures forever!
I read continue the Bible, which continue describing how to live a life worthy of the Lord, which pleases Him.
… bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:10-12)
I was able to see four things:
1. bearing fruit in every good work,
2. growing in the knowledge of God,
3. being strengthened with all power, and
4. giving joyful thanks to the Father.
The first one is to bear fruit. What are the fruit? Of course, we all know Galatians 5:22-23, which descries the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Do we have this fruit in our life? Nobody can say “yes” because it is impossible as a human being to bear the fruit listed above. However, the Bible clearly tells that “the fruit of the Spirit” not “the fruit of us or ourselves.” Although we cannot bear such fruit, through the power of the Spirit, we can bear the fruit because the Spirit bears the fruit.
How many times have we experienced? As soon as we are occupied by our own selves, the fruit of the Spirit disappears. In stead, the fruit of our own self (i.e. the flesh) springs out. The Bible says “The acts of the flesh are obvious.” Yes, it is obvious! The Bible lists out the fruit of the flesh: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. (Galatians 5:19-21) This list is not new to us because we have been experiencing many times before. Then how can we bear the fruit of the Spirit? Jesus told a simple answer: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)” Yes, as long as we are attached to the vine, Jesus, as being the branches, we will bear the fruit of the Spirit, because we will be nurtured by Jesus and His tender and loving care. Apart from Him, our flesh will surely bear the fruit of the flesh as listed in the Bible.
The next is grow in the knowledge of God. Abiding in Jesus Christ means that we are getting all good things from Him. As being attached to Jesus as the branches, we have an intimate relationship with Him, having communion with Him every moment and growing in Him. This is a secret between Him and each of us. This is a real joy to know about Him more and more, and having a deeper relationship with Him by truly experiencing Jesus and His Love. This joy is a true secret, which cannot be described by any humanly languages. We are experiencing the joy of Heaven on earth. Apostle Paul was not able to describe in a human language, but simply said: And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. (2 Corinthian 12:3-4) Yes, the joy and knowledge is hidden and secret, but to those who love God, all of this mystery and truth are made plain (Ephesians 3:9)
Then, we will be strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that we may have great endurance and patience. 2015 was short, especially we look back, but there were ups and downs. 2016 will not be different. There will be up and down. We might encounter a storm of life again. What really matters is how to confront a storm. An eminent and strong urge from our own heart and thought should be subdued. Instead, before a storm, we absolutely surrender to God. Then we receive Him who will surely steer us out of the storm. In Him, we will be secure. Most of all, we know more about Him, and His loving hand. This is the victory, and we will turn out to be more than conquerors in Him, through Him and by Him, because He loves us more than anything else created by Him. Yes, we will experience Him more and grow deeper relationship with Him, having knowledge of secret allowed for us to have because He loves us.
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)
Surely, in 2016, we will be more than conquerors through Him who loves us regardless our circumstances (up or down). Our heart will sing praise to Him, and give thanks to the Father, our God. Yes, not just thanks, but truly joyful thanks. Why joyful thanks? God has qualified us to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light, i.e., the Heaven. Yes, we are not worthy to inherit His Kingdom with our forefathers in faith, but God has qualified us through the blood of Jesus Christ so that we can inherit His kingdom with those who are already in Heaven by keeping the faith in Jesus Christ to the end. As long as abiding in Him, we will grow, be strengthened, and bear lots of the fruit of the Spirit on earth. His name will continue being praised and glorified. Praise Him, whose love is greater and stronger than anything else! Praise His Name, whose grace is unfathomable! Praise God, whose mercy is enduring forever! We are His people, and we give our highest praise and joyful thanks to Him from now and forever.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Let’s continue praying for His grace, mercy and love to increase our faith, and live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way. Our loving Father, who are full of mercy and grace, will be our guide, and we will be more than conquerors with those who are faithful. Praise, honor, and glory to Our Father, One and Only One God! Amen!