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9 For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, so that you may have all endurance and patience, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

 

It is easy as Christians to get distracted and bogged down in the pursuit of a “walk worth of the Lord”. The Bible is full of instruction on what it means be pleasing to God. I could spend pages upon pages with just bullet points of what we should and should not do to live in a way pleasing to God. Do not get me wrong; I fully believe that this instruction bound in scripture does depict a life of discipleship that we should seek.

 

My problem is sometimes individuals (and churches) become so concerned with these things that we miss the truth of the gospels: we are already recipients of the salvation and redemption of Christ the Light of World. It is believed that the people of Colossae were being misguided into thinking they had to do something more or become instructed in some new, deeper knowledge to truly receive salvation. But it is already done. And in gratitude we need to deeply embrace the entirety of the Church in this Good News. Yes, we need to be supporters, teachers and guides of each other along the way as we each pursue the walk God has for us. But we must always remember Christ’s triumphant words on the cross: “It is finished” (John 19:30). Christ has done it all and we are the recipients. Now we simply must walk forward embracing what He has so graciously bestowed upon us.

 

Lamb of God, we thank you for our forgiveness. We ask that you shepherd us each day so that we may delight in Your Will. Amen.

 

Chad Ryberg Cryberg@livinglord.org

 

Prayer Concern: Peace within the Church.