Colossians 1:9-10

“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.” Colossians 1:9-10

There is nothing more important than growing in the knowledge of God. Paul knows this at his core which is why his opening prayer to the church in Coloasse is that they will grow in their understanding. But why? Why as believers do we need to continue in our understanding of God?

Really painful and hurtful things happen in our lifetime. Suffering is a real thing. So real that Jesus suffered on the cross and told us plainly that we will have trouble in this world. (John 16:33) I've heard it said that we are either in a trial, coming out of one, or about to enter one. In fact, it is said that around this time or shortly after this letter was written there was a devastating earthquake. Thankfully the people of Colossae were growing in wisdom. We have an enemy that wants to destroy us. (John 10:10) We need to be prepared in season and out of season. (2 Timothy 4:2) The only way to be prepared and the only way to grow is to know God in our now.

God cares very much about what is happening in your life right now. What is happening right now is so important that he tells us to not worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34) Our now is sometimes filled with disappointment and suffering, deep loss and grief, but if we are growing in our understanding of God then we know that our hope is not in our now. We can hold on to the hope we profess. (Hebrews 10:23) We can rest knowing that Heaven is our home (Hebrews 13: 14-16) We know that even in grief he promises to show his compassion because of his unfailing love. (Lamentations 3:32) We know that despite the circumstance of the now He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23) That we have the Holy Spirit which is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. (Ephesians 1:14)

His love and His light is worth waiting for in the darkest and deepest places of our life. But if we aren’t growing in our understanding we won’t know this. And we need to know this. Scripture is the place we go to see that God is immanent (near) all knowing, and all powerful. Scripture is the place we go to see how loved and valued we are. We see God’s heart on display throughout all of scripture. It’s the place where hope lives and the Holy Spirit can speak to us. It is the place we go to actually live the rest of Colossians 1:9-10 - we can’t live a life worthy or pleasing if we don’t know Him who is calling us to do so.

Run to the Word of God this week and wait on Him. Grow in the kNOWledge of God to be prepared and equipped. Ask yourself these questions:

1. Am I teachable?

2. Do I run to scripture to understand God?

3. Do you understand the importance of scripture?

4. Are you making every effort to grow in Christ Jesus?