THE STORY OF JESUS: Colossians 1-2
“A life worthy of the Lord… bearing fruit in every good work!” (Colossians 1:10)
Paul is very encouraged by how the Colossian disciples are doing (1:3-7).
But he is still praying fervently for them, as he senses they may be losing their focus.
He repeatedly stresses the’fullness’ and ‘completeness’ of Christ.
And we have this fullness (1:9), everything we need for life and godliness in Him.
The fruit of this fullness is goodness – the fullness of God’s goodness.
We were saved to be ‘very good’ and to be that way “throughout the whole world” (1:6).
But they were shifting their focus to religious observance (2:16ff).
Paul sees religious rituals and rules as empty and worthless shadows.
When they become the focus, we lose our connection to Jesus His fullness.
Live by the Spirit, not by the rules, and you will overflow with good fruit.
Focus on love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc., and they will grow in us.
A person that makes the fruit of the Spirit their desire will not go away empty.
We can’t produce it ourselves, but we can with His energy at work in us (1:29).
Is your following Jesus focused on being religious, or being good?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, help me to die to being religious so that I may be filled with the fullness of Your love, joy, peace, etc. overflowing in and through me.