Unashamed Reading Plan
Check out all the previous Unashamed readings here.
Unashamed Reading Plan | Week 6 | Day 5
Prayer
As you come to spend time with Jesus, calm your mind and body until you feel fully present. Thank Jesus that he came to save you!
Bible Reading: Colossians 1:9-14
Read these verses three times slowly.
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. 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: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Reflection & Questions
We finish our readings this week with Paul writing to a church about leaving behind sin and “living a life worthy of the Lord and pleas[ing] him in every way.” This is Paul’s desire and prayer for them (and every believer). What’s helpful here is that Paul spells out what a life pleasing to the Lord looks like and how to grow in that.
There are three things Paul says a pleasing life looks like:
- Fruitful: “bearing fruit in every good work.” We are to be making a difference with our lives. The Lord is immensely pleased when we are thoughtful and intentional about how to use our days, how to reach our ONEs and how to serve others with the gifts and abilities we have.
- Knowledgeable: A life pleasing to the Lord is a life that is “growing in the knowledge of God.” This isn’t just knowing about Him, though it is certainly a life that is interested in the things of God and growing in that. This is chiefly about knowing Him. Growing in relationship with Him. Trusting His heart, discerning His voice, and obeying His ways. He is pleased to be known by His children.
- Persevering: A life pleasing to the Lord is one that has “endurance and patience” in the trials and problems that arise. We can’t face these alone and God doesn’t expect us to (Paul prays that the church would be strengthened according to God’s power), but it is highly pleasing to the Lord when we remain faithful in the dark times for it shows our trust in Him.
How do we do these things? In partnership with the Holy Spirit in us. Paul starts his prayer asking that God “fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.” Pray for the Spirit’s work in your life and for His help to show us how to be fruitful, knowledgeable and persevering.
- What word or phrase sticks out to you from the verses today? Why?
- Which of the ways that Paul uses to describe a life that pleases the Lord do you want to grow in? Why? How will you do that?
Prayer
Talk to God in response to the reading today.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Bible Reading: Colossians 1:9-14
Read these verses three times slowly.
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. 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: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Reflection & Questions
Once you have become a new creation, how are you supposed to live? What are your actions and words supposed to be? Paul gives us 3 things that we can use to live a life pleasing to God.
- Fruitful – “bearing fruit in every good work.” When you think of a tree bearing fruit, that means that all the hard work of planting, watering, and taking care of it has paid off – you can eat the delicious fruit now. The same with being a Christian: once you have accepted salvation from Jesus, you can start to bear fruit. It looks a little different than an apple or peach. It looks like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (all the fruits of the Holy Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23).
- Knowledgeable – “growing in the knowledge of God.” This doesn’t just mean that we know ABOUT Him, although that is important too. It means that we are getting to know Him, growing in our relationship with Him, trusting Him, and obeying Him.
- Persevering: “endurance and patience.” All of these words together mean to keep going even when it gets tough. Sometimes we have problems that come up and God wants us to work through them. But not by ourselves! We can ask Him for help and to guide us and that’s what He wants from us – it shows that we trust Him, even when it feels dark all around us.
That’s the best part about all of this – we do not have to do it all by ourselves without any help. Paul even says that when he prays it is for God to “fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.” The Holy Spirit is one great and powerful helper!
- Have you felt the Holy Spirit in your life before? What does that feel like?
Pray
Ask for the Holy Spirit to be with you constantly while you try to live a life that is pleasing to God. Thank God for giving you such a wonderful helper and guide!
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
