PRAYING FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD BEING FRUITFUL The work itself is not what is fruitful, but the one engaging in the work. The Kingdom of God is a network of various manners of fruit. For example, the Gospel produced fruit in the Colossians, as it did "in all the world" (1:6). Now, the Colossians are called into the matter of bearing fruit, being themselves spiritually productive. IN EVERY GOOD WORK This is a statement of the greatest magnitude, challenging both heart and mind: "fruitful in every good work." Allow me to restate this with different emphases. "FRUITFUL in every good work." Fruitful IN every good work." "Fruitful in EVERY good work." "Fruitful in every GOOD work." "Fruitful in every good WORK." THE OPPOSITE OF LABORING IN VAIN Being "fruitful in every good work" is the opposite of labor being "in vain," something Paul zealously sought to avoid. He stated his concern for the Galatians in these words: "I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain" (Gal 4:11). Again, he wrote to the Philippians, "Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain" (Phil 2:16). He also wrote to the Thessalonians, "For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain" (1 Thess 2:1). Again he wrote, "For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labor be in vain" (1 Thess 3:5). -- Tomorrow:
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness." (Colossians 1:9-11, KJV)
Devotion 19 of 32
" . . . being fruitful in every good work . . . "
Other versions read, "bearing fruit in every good work" (NASB), and "AS you bear fruit in every good work" (NRSV).
The "good work" itself is not the point, but what comes from it – its "fruit." Ordinarily, one might suppose "good works" themselves to be fruit. Here, however, they are a means to fruit bearing – something God uses to produce a yield that brings glory to Himself.
Because of a proneness to forget this, I must again remind you that this is a prayer for ALL the saints – not a select few. Fruit bearing is a family matter, with every member of Christ's household being involved. Jesus affirmed that the one abiding, or remaining, in Him WOULD "bring forth much fruit" (John 15:5). That is the manner of the kingdom. It is the nature of true spiritual life. Where there is no fruit, there is, in fact, no life.
Wherever the Holy Spirit is not quenched or grieved, He produces a rich bounty for the glory of God – "the fruit of the Spirit" (Gal 5:22-23). This fruit has to do with our character, or essential persons: "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." This not what the Spirit MIGHT do, or is CAPABLE of doing, but what He ACTUALLY does. The only way this fruit can fail to be produced in the child of God is for the Spirit to be quenched (1 Thess 5:19), grieved (Eph 4:30), and resisted (Acts 7:51).
Our text is showing the appointed means through which this fruitage is produced. It comes by being "filled with the knowledge of" God's will – something that results in the experience of "all wisdom and spiritual understanding." In turn, that marvelous comprehension produces a life that is "worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing." The calculated result of that pleasing life is being "fruitful in every good work." He does not say "fruitful in everything we do," but "in every good work." These are none other that the "good works" which "God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Being "fruitful" is multidimensional. There is an inner fruit that enhances human character: "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" (Gal 5:22-23). There is "fruit" brought forth to God Himself (Rom 7:4), which includes thanksgiving (Heb 13:15), a holy life (Rom 6:22) or righteousness (Heb 12:11), and converts (Rom 1:13).
Paul not only zealously sought to avoid laboring in vain himself, but also sought for the people of God to avoid that condition. He thus engaged in his ministry in order that they might "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work."
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus Christ grant Your people grace to be fruitful in every good work.