I am not a runner. I don’t enjoy running. I wouldn’t even consider myself an avid jogger. For me, running is what happens when you are chased by a pack of wild dogs. With that being said, when your wife asks you to sign up for and run in a half-marathon with her, I did what all husbands ought to do – agree. I learned some valuable lessons from that one and only race. First, knowing about something doesn’t necessarily mean you understand it. I knew what the race consisted of, the distance, the terrain, and the time to finish but that knowledge didn’t translate into life change – it didn’t drive me to train differently (or train at all). Second, at the beginning of the race I thought I knew what perseverance and long-suffering meant, but it wasn’t until the very end of the race that I fully understood! So, when I studied Paul’s letter to the Colossians and I saw that he prayed for them to live in a manner worthy of the Lord – and one of those ways was through perseverance and long-suffering – I thought I understood. Yet, I was surprised to read that we are not called to simply persevere but rather to persevere with joy. Our lives are to be characterized by joyful perseverance and long-suffering. Tough word. Quite convicting.
What does Colossians 1:9-12 tell us?
When we rightly know the Lord (Prov. 1:7) and are in agreement with His will (Rom. 12:2) we are able to live and act in a manner that is pleasing to the Him and appropriate as one of His children. (1 Thess. 2:12; 3 John 6)
The word worthy in this context refers to conduct that is expected and appropriate of God’s children which pleases Him.
Four things we can learn through Paul’s instructions to the Colossians on how we ought to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the Lord:
1. Believers please God when they are bearing fruit in every good work. Good works are not a means to achieve salvation, but rather are the outworking of it. Good works in the life of the believer please God because good works are God’s plan for the believer (Eph. 2:8–10).
2. Believers please God when they are growing in the knowledge of God. The more we know of God’s character, His ways, and His expectations, the more we are able to bring our lives into conformity with that which pleases Him.
3. Believers please God when they are joyful in their perseverance and long-suffering as they are strengthened by God’s power.
4. Believers please God when they give Him thanks and praise for His gift of salvation. In grace, God qualifies us when we trust Christ as the atoning sacrifice for our sin. This salvation is ours by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
Head knowledge isn't the same as heart knowledge. Head knowledge says, "I know about God" whereas heart knowledge says, "I understand who God is personally and believe in the sacrifice His Son made for me". It's that understanding of who Christ is that translates into life change – that drives us to live and act in a manner worthy of Him.
Persevere with joy!
May God bless you and keep you this week!
In Christ,
Patrick Ransom