Monday, September 16, 2013

What makes God worthy? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 1:9-10,

"We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way ..."

In his prayers for the Colossian believers, Paul asks God to fill them with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding the Holy Spirit provides. He asks this so that these believers might "live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way..." Here is a question: what makes the Lord worthy that we should live our lives for him? I think it is a question he might have us answer. Perhaps there are some "believers" out there that have not really addressed the worthiness of the Lord in their own minds and so struggle in their lifestyles, failing to live their lives in a manner pleasing to the Lord.

Here is some of what comes to my mind. I am quite certain you can add much to this to develop our consideration of God's worthiness.

1. God created us. If he had not, we wouldn't be here to live a life worthy of him or any other kind of a life!

2. Mankind, as a race, rebelled against God in the garden and justly earned his judgment. However, out of his incomprehensible love, he sent his Son to die a miserable death to pay the penalty for our sins.

3. God has openly invited us all into his family with open arms- and does so without requiring a level of performance with the things we think, do and say. He only asks us to embrace him in faith. All who do so are freely saved from his judgment in an eternal lake of fire.

4. God has decided that those who have Jesus' death (his payment for the sins of all mankind) credited to their account, that they be brought into his family with a rich welcome, and embraced as holy, righteous and blameless!

5. God has made believers his own heirs as co-heirs with Jesus Christ.

6. God has sent his Holy Spirit as his presence within our lives - a constant companion.

7. God has provided us with the Scriptures to inform us of his intentions, provide us direction, encourage us in this lost and fallen world, let us know of his wonderful plans he has for us in the resurrection.

I think there are many other things that could be added to this list. What would you add? God's many-splendored perfections that make him worthy? That he can turn the most hardened heart into a wonderful person, like Paul or others you may know? That his is developing the very character and nature of Jesus Christ within us? What would you add to this list? Surely this is a list that could have countless entries made...

Anything ofthe Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Trevor Fisk

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