PRAYING FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD Our text is in complete harmony with the following representations of the production of fruit. Being "fruitful in every good work" is traced to walking worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing. Walking "worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing" is the result of being "filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." Being "filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding" is a condition resulting from prayer to God – it is the result of God's own working (Col 1:9-12)! Elsewhere this Divine working is stated in this manner. "For IT IS GOD which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Phil 2:13). Again we read, "Now the God of peace . . . make you perfect in every good work to do his will, WORKING IN YOU that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Heb 13:20-21). -- 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 21 of 32
This Divine working, however, does not exclude our own involvement in the process. That is, in fact, why this prayer is being raised to the God of heaven. There will, in reality, be no progress in spiritual life until the people themselves are involved. There is no such thing as an impersonal salvation, where God uses people like a puppet master uses a puppet. The people of God are not like dummies sitting upon the lap of a Divine ventriloquist. They have been "joined to the Lord," and are "one spirit" with Him (1 Cor 6:17). They are "in Christ" (2 Cor 5:17), and Christ is in them (Col 1:27). They are in God (1 John 4:16), and God is in them (2 Cor 6:16). They are in the Spirit (Rom 8:9), and the Spirit is in them (Gal 4:6).
Knowing this, and upon hearing of the faith and "love in the Spirit" of the Colossians, the Apostle is praying for the deeper and more productive involvement of the saints. He knows the objective of salvation and the nature of living by faith, and therefore he prays in this manner. Salvation is a process in which we are being changed "from glory unto glory" by the Spirit of God (2 Cor 3:18). That glorious change involves more extensive involvement in the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. It includes a closer walk, a more sensitive heart, and an ear that is more ready to hear. It embraces entering more fully into the works that God has prepared, "that we should walk in them" (Eph 2:10).
THE TIME FOR EXAMINATION
It is time for every child of God to examine themselves. How do they stand in regard to being "filled with the knowledge of" God's will? To what degree do they possess "all wisdom and spiritual understanding?" Is their life "worthy of the Lord," and does it fall into the category of "all pleasing?" Are they being "fruitful in every good work?" All of this is bound up in the admonition, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" (2 Cor 13:5).
It is imperative that we begin NOW to receive what God has "prepared for those who love Him" (1 Cor 2:9). However, let it be clear to you, our participation in the salvation of God is not fulfilled in being only receivers! God has prepared activities that are to be fulfilled by His children – "good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph 2:10). The reason we have been joined to Christ is in order "that we should bring forth fruit unto God" (Rom 7:4). The "great salvation" of God qualifies and enables the saints to produce that God-glorifying fruit. That is the ultimate objective for which Paul is praying.
An honest appraisal of these things will confirm to your heart that there is still a lot of room for growth. There are heights still to be reached, and levels of participation still to be realized. In fact, as long as we are in the body, this condition will remain. We are not in heaven yet, and until we are, there is room for significant advancement in the Lord. While we are traveling the highway raised in the desert, we need much grace to be more fully conformed to the image of Christ, and thus to produce "much fruit."
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to be free from any religious influences or perspectives that hinder my growth and render me unfruitful.