Read: Colossians 1: 10

So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Reflect:

This time of year has the power to cause us to reflect on another year in the rear-view mirror while the days ahead grow fewer and fewer. That’s not intended to be a negative comment – just a realistic one.  With that in mind, we have no time to lose. Today is the day to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.” 

“Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live” – Jonathan Edwards.

Life isn’t intended to be lived safely in a bubble. In order to be “pleasing to him,” we have to step out and live with integrity and authenticity in our Christian walk. In order to bear “fruit in every good work”, we must live in dependence on the Holy Spirit in our everyday actions. And in order to increase our “knowledge of God” we’ll need to invest time in our relationship with Him.

Respond:

This morning I listened to Ravi Zacharias’ response to a young man’s question along these same areas of thinking.  He asked Ravi what it takes to walk in such a way that pleases God daily.  

Ravi’s simple and often neglected response of developing a deeper love for the things of God reminded me of Thomas Chalmer’s:

“We know of no other way by which to keep the love of the world out of our heart than to keep in our hearts the love of God and no other way by which to keep our hearts in the love of God, than by building ourselves on our most holy faith…The best way of casting out an impure affection is to admit a pure one.”

Too often we focus on what we will not do.  We will avoid this set of circumstances. We will steer clear of another danger. Those actions may be beneficial in the short term, but we must do more than avoid the enticements around us, we must fill the void in our lives with the things that are pleasing to God.