Beyond Sunday: Two-Step Growth

[Editor's note: Beyond Sunday is a Monday refresher to carry you through the week.]

Focus Verse of the Week

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God… (Colossians 1:5-15)

Classic Commentary

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord
The Vulgate Latin version reads, "of God"; but the Lord Jesus Christ seems to be emphasized. To "walk worthy" of him is to walk by faith in him; to walk after his Spirit, and according to his word, and in his ordinances. It means to have the conversation as becomes his Gospel, and worthy of that calling by which the saints are called by grace to the obtaining of his kingdom and glory. The apostle prays that their knowledge might issue in practice - for knowledge, without practice, is of no avail. The Christian first asks for knowledge, and then practice, for how should men act according to the will of God, or Christ, unless they know it? And when they know it, they should not rest in their knowledge, but put it in practice.

(Adapted from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible, Colossians 1:10.)

A Thought to Keep

A growing faith is a two-step process: first, we must know the Lord's commands. Second, we must ask in faith for His help in following them.