(Begin with 1-2 minutes of silence)
Colossians 1:10…the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit.
Consider your favorite hobby. Whether it’s golf, running, cycling, photography, cooking, sewing, music, or coffee roasting, you’ve almost certainly learned a great deal about this hobby over the years. What was the purpose of watching all of those videos about running or photography or…whatever? The purpose was to gain more knowledge and insight so you can improve and get better at it. Knowledge can be helpful, but only when it’s put into practice.
Paul understands this vital truth in his opening prayer to for the people of Colosse. He prays not only that the Colossians would gain complete knowledge of God’s will, but that they would use this knowledge to “honor and please the Lord” by the way they live and “produce every kind of good fruit.”
This truth is absolutely essential for our lives as well. We can learn a lot about God, and have a lot of knowledge about the Scriptures, but this knowledge is useless without living it out. Christianity isn’t just set of beliefs. It changes the way we think. It changes the way we live. It changes everything.
READING & PRAYERS:
COLOSSIANS 1:9-14, PROV. 2:1-22, ROMANS 12:2 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: How could you explain to somebody else what kind of effect Christianity is supposed to have in a person?
DIGGING DEEPER: In what areas of your life do you currently have knowledge of God and/or the Scriptures but this knowledge isn’t leading to life change? (e.g., bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, gossip, slander, depression, anxiety, sadness, drunkenness, pornography, etc.) What is getting in the way of you putting your knowledge of the Scriptures into practice?
Take a Step: Practice listening to God by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice a day.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that when I think of areas in my life in which I have knowledge of the Scriptures but I’m not putting it into practice, it’s because I feel ashamed. Thoughts of not being “good enough” flood my mind, so I numb or ignore these areas instead of allowing You to help me experience real life change. Remove these thoughts of shame and fear from my mind so I may grow into the person You’ve created me to be. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(End with 1-2 minutes of silence.)
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