In the book of Colossians, Paul desires that Christ-followers lead a life of worth, pleasing the Lord in everything.
What does that look like? Good news: Paul tells us. Paul wrote in ancient Greek, and in Greek, he gives four participial phrases in vs. 10-14 that flesh out how God helps us live a life that is pleasing to him! Think about these as four “results'' for the life that is committed to living with God and for God. We put these four participles in an acronym to make them memorable... so here you go! If we walk worthy of the Lord, we will G.R.O.W.
Grow in intimacy with God.
Colossians 1:10 (CSB) ...growing in the knowledge of God…
Any time we spend more time with someone, our relationship becomes more intimate. We get to know someone better, and we get a sense of what they want from us and for us without them having to explicitly say what that is. The more we grow in the knowledge of God, the more we have a clearer understanding of what He wants us to do to bring glory to Him.
Realize our impact in our world.
Colossians 1:10 (CSB) ...bearing fruit in every good work…
Even those who don’t know Christ can do good things in the world. But the good that they do doesn’t bear the fruit of God. The things that they do don’t last for eternity. God is actively working in our lives to bear fruit. He wants us to look more and more like Him.
Operate in God’s strength.
nytimesusa being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience…
God does not send us to do His will without giving us what we need to accomplish His will. Just as He provided Moses with the strength he needed to lead God’s people, God will give us the strength and power we need to accomplish all of the good works He prepared in advance for us to do. Paul also highlights the reason for God’s strength: endurance and patience.
Endurance is the ability to bear a heavy load, and patience is the ability to remain calm even when provoked. We need God’s strength to endure hardships in life as they come and to remain calm and self-controlled when others push us. What a tremendous prayer to pray and a gift to receive from God.
Worship with a Grateful Heart
Colossians 1:11-14 (CSB) ...joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.14 In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Paul ends this section with an encouragement to worship and give thanks to God for all the incredible things He has done in our lives. Reflecting on the amazing gift of salvation in our lives should bring us to a place of constant praise and thankfulness. G.K. Chesterton says, “When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” To have a powerful godly faith and life, we must give thanks continually, not just for what God has already done, but for what He’s currently doing and will continue to do in our lives. Let’s commit to G.R.O.W. in godly wisdom, the fruit (result) is godly living!
Written by Carrie Botkin
Carrie Botkin is the Campus Director at the Scripps Ranch Campus and a member of the Lead Team at Newbreak. She loves adventuring around San Diego with her husband, Matt, two kids and their pug named Marshmallow. Carrie has been on staff at Newbreak for 21 years. She believes in the mission, vision and values of Newbreak and loves seeing lives changed through Jesus!
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