Tales from the Herd

I want to introduce you to my GF Lisa. Lisa is one of my herd that lives a long ways away. Florida. This is her blog. http://tipitee.blogspot.com/ I am copying a post of hers and sharing it with you. I read this Wednesday with tears in my eyes, because this is a passage I have been clinging to tenaciously for several weeks now. It was a great reminder, and just proof that God is looking out for me and using my girls to help with that.

Colossians 1:1-14
Oh I can tell just from these first few verses that we are in for a treat studying this book together. Such richness from the scriptures!

Verse 9 - Paul starts with an important prayer for the people of Colosse - "We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives". I...n our western way of thinking, we tend to turn this on ourselves and pray too that we would know God's will for our lives - what does He want us to do, to be, to say? In actuality the meaning of the word "will" is much broader. Paul wants the believers to be filled with an understanding of how God works, what He wants to accomplish in the hearts of men and His ultimate desire for the nations. First of all, Paul wants us to know that it's not about us - it's about God. :) His will is discernable by the Spirit who gives us wisdom and revelation (a view of the character and personhood of God).

Verse 10-12 - So once we set our thoughts on God's will (His purposes and what He's doing and what He's done) we then live in response to His will.

There is a moment at the end of the movie Saving Private Ryan when the last battle is fought, Ryan is safe and on his way home and his rescuer, Capt. Miller, who had been commissioned to find him and send him home safely, was dying. His last words in Private Ryan’s ear were, “Earn this.” At that point, the battle was over, he was safe and there was no possible way to exchange his life for the lives that had been sacrificed for his freedom. Still, the one who died for him wanted him to “earn this”. Miller wanted Ryan to live such a great life that his sacrifice would not have been in vain, to have such a positive influence on the world around him that his life could be counted worthy of having been saved.

I thought of that scene when I read Colossians 1:9-10a –“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way:” At this point in our lives, the battle has already been fought and won, the Hero (Jesus) has already died and we are saved! There’s no possible way to earn such a sacrifice. But can’t you just hear the dying words of Jesus begging us to “earn this”. Not that we could, but that He wants us to live such a great life that His sacrifice would not be in vain, to have such a positive influence on the world around us that we could be counted worthy of having been saved. It’s not an effort in earning our salvation, but an honest expression of the gratitude we owe our Savior to live well, to live free and to honor His sacrifice.

How do we do that? Verses 10b-12 tell us:

By bearing fruit in every good work,
By growing in the knowledge of God,
By being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,
By giving joyful thanks to the Father, Who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His people in the Kingdom of Light.
Meditate on those four things that please God.

What do they mean and how do we do them?
How does knowing God's purposes on the earth play into your ability or desire to bear fruit, to know God, to stay strong and patiently endure or to be joyful?
These are the things that please God, that honor the sacrifice Christ made for our salvation.


Thanks for dining at the Cafe' today!