Paul continues his prayer in Col. 1: 9-11 : "... that you may behave in a manner worthy of the Lord."

Paul does not mean here that we should behave like well-behaved children. Paul does not talk about this kind of outside things here. On the other hand, European Christians may have trouble with certain other habits of American Christians, for example, excessive makeup. He gives us a key in what he follows : "... to please him from every point of view, that you bear fruit by all kinds of good works." This is done first of all in our inner being, and not in appearance externally. All this in the knowledge that we can never be 'worthy' for God in ourselves, but only through the work of Jesus on the Cross! It is his blood that makes us 'worthy' !

You see that these prayers always bring us back to the same things ? Knowledge of God, bearing fruit, things of our heart, the character of Christ ... When these things are present, everything else follows almost automatically.

One more point on this prayer. Paul says : "... for perseverance and patience."

We need this true knowledge of God and his will if we want to persevere and have patience in the trials of life. If we do not really know God, if we have a false concept of his will, if we have God's expectations that are not biblical, we will soon be frustrated in the trials, and we will say : "It is not right !"

1 Peter 4: 12-13 tells us : "My dear friends, you have been plunged into the furnace of trial. Do not be surprised, as if something unusual happened to you. On the contrary, rejoice, for you participate in the sufferings of Christ, in order to be filled with joy when it appears in all its glory." (Sower Version)

It is often because we do not know the will and the purpose of God for us that we are 'surprised' by the furnace of the trial and that we think it is something abnormal. But it is quite normal, even necessary !!

It is also for this reason that it is such a good prayer that we can pray for ourselves and for each other. If we know the purpose and the will of God, the advantage will be that these tests will not surprise us ...

Tomorrow we will look again at another prayer from the Apostle Paul.

"Lord, help me to please you, to live my life worthy of you. Help me also to recognize the different trials in which you wish and to discern them from the obstacles and attacks of the Enemy. In the name of Jesus, amen !"

René de Groot