Twin City church of Christ Blog
“Sept 19, 2024 - Bearing Fruit and Increasing”
Categories: 2024 Reading DevotionalsBearing Fruit and Increasing
Reading: Colossians 1:1-14
Paul does not know the Colossians personally, but that does not stop him praying for them. “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints”(Col 1:3-4). Epaphras has told Paul about the good work God is doing in Colosse (Col 1:7-8) and Paul thanks God for them. But he also sees this as part and parcel of the way God’s word works: “Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you”(Col 1:5-6). Paul sees a consistent pattern: wherever the gospel goes, fruit and increase follow. Lives are changed, hearts are softened, disciples are born, and God is praised.
So it is no surprise that Paul prays for this pattern to continue in the Colossians. He wants them to live “bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God”(Col 1:10). There it is again: bearing fruit and increasing. We can only bear fruit when we are “filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding”(Col 1:9), so Paul prays for that too. And we can only bear fruit when we have been “strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy”(Col 1:11), so Paul prays for that too. And we only persist in this path when we are consistently “giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light”(Col 1:12), so Paul prays for that too. Like a master gardener, Paul calls on God to gather all the ingredients (knowledge, strength, gratitude) to produce the rich fruits of Christian living in the Colossians.
Wherever the gospel goes, fruit and increase follow. We begin to live in different ways: showing patience with frustrating people, forgiving those who have hurt us, growing in self-control, speaking in kindness rather than anger, and serving those around us. So if we have the knowledge and strength we need, one question remains: are we bearing fruit and increasing?
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One Thing to Think About: In what ways am I “bearing fruit and increasing”?
One Thing to Pray For: My brothers and sisters to be filled with God’s knowledge and strength
