For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects — bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the display of all patience and steadfastness, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. 13 He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:9-14 (NET1)
Before we can do God’s will, we must know what it is. Paul’s prayer above asks God to fill us with the knowledge of God’s will and purpose. It’s one thing to catch of glimpse of something God wants to do, and another thing altogether to be “filled” with the knowledge of his will. God wants us to be immersed in his will and overflowing with the desire to fulfill it. We need spiritual wisdom and understanding to adequately comprehend what God is doing and plans. The purpose of such wonderful knowledge and understanding is to make us fully obedient. Knowledge without obedience sadly is grounds for a stricter judgment. It would be better not to know what God wants from us than to know but not obey. However, if we choose to obey, God’s grace comes alongside us (in the Person of the Holy Spirit) to enable us to bear lasting fruit and grow even more in our knowledge of God and his will. Lastly, the character of Christ will be further developed in us as we obey and grow in our knowledge of God. Our thanksgiving will bring God even more glory!
Prayer
Lord, fill us with the knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that we may live worthily and please You in all respects. Please give us lasting fruit as a result of every good thing we do through faith and obedience. Help us to grow in our knowledge of You and be strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might, so that your patience and steadfastness will be on display. This will lead everyone to joyfully give thanks to You, Father, Who have qualified us through Christ to share in your inheritance. You delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son You love, our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, and life everlasting. Thank you! Amen.
