“… so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:10)
Paul wants his readers to live in a way that pleases and honors God. How is that possible? In other verses, Paul has made clear that nobody is able to meet God’s standards. Instead of pleasing the Lord, we are grieving Him by our sins. As the prophet Isaiah remarks, “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). So, how can Paul even wish for his fellow believers to be “fully pleasing to God”?
A key term here is faith in Jesus. Hebrews 11:6 says, “without faith it is impossible to please Him”. Romans 14:23 confirms this: “whatever does not proceed from faith is sin”. That’s what our lives look like if we reject Jesus. But if we do live by faith in Him, we are freed from the deadly grip of sin and can do what is good.
We won’t be perfect though. That’s why Paul keeps praying that his readers may “increase” in the knowledge of God. This is a lifelong process that takes time and exercise. But it’s worth it!
Do you long to please the Lord God?