It Starts Small

⁹ For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, ¹⁰ so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and 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, ¹² 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. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:9-14

 we have not stopped praying for you

One cannot help but feel the fervent heart of prayer that pulses through Paul’s epistles for the churches. This theme reverberates time and again, showcasing his unwavering commitment. It seems Paul dedicated as much, if not more, of his time to prayer than to preaching. Today, many people claim they are simply too busy to pray, overwhelmed by the demands of life. Yet, the wise Martin Luther proclaimed with passion. He said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”

Paul’s prayer resonates with fervor and intent. It dives deep into the soul. It reveals his profound concern for their enduring spiritual vitality and character. His concern transcends mere comfort or convenience. Picture, if you will, a gathering where we examine the essence of your prayers for fellow believers. What would our reflections reveal? Are your prayers infused with rich spiritual truths? Do they exude a heartfelt reliance on the Lord? Are they oriented toward the genuine spiritual needs of others, or merely fixated on superficial matters like health?

so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord

This is a high calling.

¹² encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

1 Thessalonians 2:12

We can never truly claim to be worthy of the incredible sacrifice Christ made for us. His grace is a magnificent gift that cannot be earned. By its very nature, grace is unmerited and beautiful. Yet, we hold the power to respond to His boundless love in a worthy manner. We can turn away from our sins and open ourselves up to His transformative power in our lives. Let us ask ourselves daily, “Would I act like this if Jesus were right here?” This question encourages vigilance in our actions. The truth is, He is always present. He observes our every thought and action. He urges us to embrace a life that reflects His glory.

please him in every way

We receive profound spiritual blessings when we wholeheartedly embrace the path of Christ. We will uncover more about this in verses 13-14. Yet, along with these gifts come profound responsibilities. He stands as our Shepherd, guiding us, while we are His devoted sheep. He is the Master, and we are the faithful servants at His command. Can a servant arbitrarily decide which commands to follow? Absolutely not! In the same vein, we cannot selectively choose where to honor God in our lives. We are called to zealously pursue His pleasure in every facet, in every single decision we make.

Our innermost thoughts should be nothing less than pure and holy! Our words must uplift others and bring glory to God. Every decision we make (James 4:15) should resonate with our desire to please Him, not merely ourselves. We must strive to honor Him at work, at home, within our families, and in the company of friends. Let us dedicate our free time to activities that glorify the Lord. We must remember that He deeply cares about the way we treat everyone. This includes our parents, siblings, spouses, children, neighbors, classmates, co-workers, bosses, teachers, students, relatives, enemies, and even strangers. Are you getting the point yet?

How can we achieve this monumental and transformative goal? One powerful way is to charge toward it step by step, fueled by our determination! Reflect deeply on every aspect of your life, and set bold, clear, and specific short-term goals that ignite your spirit. Establish a meaningful deadline and rise to the challenge! We advance with fervor, little by little, inch by inch, fueled by our unwavering passion!

bearing fruit in every good work,

¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

Ephesians 2:10 passionately reminds us that God has meticulously crafted an abundance of good works for us to accomplish. Each task we take on is a vibrant fruit we can joyfully present as a sacrifice to the Lord. So, I ask you: Are you a lush tree that overflows with bountiful fruit? Or are you a weary and fading tree that struggles to bear even a single piece of fruit?

growing in the knowledge of God

Do you know God more intimately today than you did last year? Last month? Last week? We are called to fervently deepen our relationship with the Lord, consistently putting our knowledge into action. This journey requires an unwavering commitment. We need to cultivate robust habits in our study of the Word. These include passionate Bible reading, engaging group Bible study, and active participation in church. We must diligently exercise all five fingers of the Word. These are Hear, Read, Study, Memorize, and Meditate. Allow each one to transform our hearts and lives!

 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience

Many sermons today fervently proclaim God’s incredible empowerment in our lives! One of the most electrifying and frequently cited verses is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This verse resonates deeply, captivating hearts with its promise. Many view the power of Christ as an enchanted elixir hidden within a mystical bottle. Believe fervently or pray with an unwavering heart, and God will pour His divine strength upon you. With this power, you can achieve the impossible! The toughest exams will become mere stepping stones. The most daunting diseases will vanish. Every towering obstacle will be tossed aside. You will boldly stride toward triumph in whichever arena you dare to conquer!

But is this what it means to be strengthened by the power of God?

We can truly grasp the profound meaning of this message in this context. It tells us that we will be invigorated to achieve two remarkable qualities: steadfastness and patience. This verse does not encompass everything God may empower us to accomplish. For instance, Romans 1:16 reveals His ability to instill boldness within us. However, it undeniably illustrates the essence of the endeavors that He strengthens us for. He ignites our spirits to lead our lives in a sacred manner. He fortifies us to obey His divine will with fervor.

How often do we approach Scripture, feeling overwhelmed by the challenge of living out its teachings? We question ourselves: How can we possibly love our wives as Christ loved the church? How do we strive to please Him in every facet of our lives? The truth is, it seems impossible—because it is! We cannot achieve this on our own, but have faith, for through Christ who empowers us, we can! God doesn’t set us on a path without providing the support we need. He equips us with the strength to fulfill His calling in our lives.

giving joyful thanks to the Father

How should we fervently react when God infuses us with strength or showers us with spiritual blessings? We must joyously and wholeheartedly give thanks! Let us never take God for granted! Look at verse 12 and marvel at what He has done for us. On our own, we could never hope to qualify as saints or earn the glorious inheritance from Christ. But He, in His infinite grace, has qualified us! Do you frequently express your heartfelt gratitude for this incredible gift?

the dominion of darkness

The world around us is a realm shrouded in darkness (John 1:5, Acts 26:18, Luke 1:79, 1 Thessalonians 5:5). Why does the Bible repeatedly depict the world as “dark?” It’s all too easy to form an attachment to this world and its fleeting pleasures. Yet, God desires that we perceive it for what it truly is—a battleground under the sway of Satan. Humanity finds itself ensnared in the chains of sin. The insatiable lust of the eyes, the relentless cravings of the flesh, and the pompous pride of life poison our souls. This erosion from within leads us further into despair.

How can we cultivate a fervent perspective toward the world? What truly embodies the proper viewpoint? We must fiercely guard ourselves against being shaped by the world around us. We should avoid falling in love with its enticing, entangling sins. Let us rejoice with all our hearts. We have been gloriously transferred out of this realm. Now we are in the magnificent kingdom of Christ!

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Discussion Questions

• Since the day we heard what (9)?
• How would you describe Paul’s prayer life?
• Why did he pray for the Colossians so much?
• What exactly did he pray for the Colossians?
• What can we learn from the content of Paul’s prayer for them?
• What knowledge did Paul want the Colossians to gain?
• What is the difference between knowledge, wisdom, and understanding?
• What is the goal of the knowledge he was praying for them?
• What does it look like when a person walks in a worthy manner?
• For what does this passage say God empowers us?
• How is this different from what we generally want God to empower us for?
• What transformation has God brought about in our lives (13)?
• How should we respond to the truth that you have been “transferred” to the kingdom of His beloved Son?
• What does redemption mean?
• What will you do in the following week to apply what we have learned today?

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