You Have Been Transferred

August 9

Read: Col 1:1-14

You Have Been Transferred

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him…” (v.9,10)

It is not “automatic” for us as Christians to know the will of God. Paul and Timothy “pray without ceasing” for the brothers and sisters in Colossae that they might be “filled with the knowledge of (God’s) will”. What a crazy picture… to be “filled with the knowledge of” the will of God. I will admit that there are times when I have no idea what God wants me to do. Then there are times I know deeply what he is calling me to… and I avoid it! Sometimes this is out of fear and other times out of anger or frustration… the more base / carnal parts of me at war with the goodness of God. In these moments, I have lost sight that it is a GIFT to have made known to us God’s will. What are some of the ways that we might grow in recognizing this “gift from God” that is HIS will being made known in us?

1.) God’s will is revealed in “spiritual wisdom and understanding” (v.9,10)

We can’t lean into our own understanding or the worlds paradigms to discern and receive the will of God… it will come from deep within us… from out spirit communing with HIS SPIRIT. This is “spiritual wisdom and understanding”. (cf. 1 Cor. 2)

2.) “Knowing” will precede walking (v.9,10)

Paul is praying for these people to be “filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” SO THAT they would “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him.” If this comes from deep within us - from our spirit communing with God’s - then we should not be surprised when a Christian dismissing the work of “knowing” and then has a “crooked walk”. Likewise - all the “knowing” in the world is only as good as the ways it is “walked out”.

3.) God’s goal and desire for us is that our lives would be “fruitful” and that we would “increase in our knowledge of him” (v.10b)

We have been built for “good works” and to know God and be known by him. It is only in this “walking out” of what has ben revealed to us that we will experience further “increase in knowledge”. Our theological ideas and constructs are only fruitful when they are walked out… and as we seek to put into action what has been made known to us we will dive deeper into knowing HIM.

4.) This sort of life will require “strength”, “endurance”, and “patience”. (v.11)

Jesus is at no deficit for strength, endurance, or patience… but we are! This is why God gifts this to us as well. Knowing his will and walking in it requires all three and he is willing and able to fill us with it. There is effort involved… and it will not always be easy… but look at what the final outworking is:

5.) In the end, we receive “joy”, “thankfulness”, and an “inheritance”. (v.12)

God’s will worked out in us will bring us JOY. When we are doing what he has asked us to - his will for us - then we will have grateful hearts … thankful hearts. In the end, we will receive an “inheritance”. God has reserved for his children an inheritance. We function as “heirs” in the Kingdom of God.

We no longer live in the “domain of darkness”. It may feel like we are trapped there… but this is not true. God has brought us out and into the “Kingdom of his Son- JESUS”. Darkness no longer has a hold on us. We have been forgiven of our sins and “redeemed”. So then, this is how we walk in the will of God… this is what we are praying for each other:

It starts with a “spiritual knowing” and wisdom that comes from deep within. This “will” or movement will be one that involves good works and will bear fruit. We should expect it to require strength, endurance, and patience. In the end, we will know God more deeply and be filled with joy and thankfulness. In the midst of what seems dark, this sort of life will remind us of the true kingdom we function in and the inheritance that is waiting for us. If our course of action is not functioning this way… then is MAY be “our will” instead of “God’s will”. Be reminded today that “you have been transferred”… you no longer work in the “dominion of darkness”. You have been reassigned… you are now a part of the KINGDOM of JESUS… the one true KING. It is God’s desire to reveal his will to you… to “fill you up” with it so that you may “walk it out”. Love you guys. - JDP