The Good Life
Scripture:
9 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, 10 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, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
Colossians 1:9-12
Devotional:
Many of us have a really distorted view of “the good life.” Last Sunday, I had the opportunity to preach a message about enjoying life in God (watch here), and while I meant every part of it, I can’t help but notice that, when I look at the world around me, definitions of what that looks like vary.
Colossians 1 gives us a great blueprint for the good life: “ a life worthy of the Lord.” How often in your daily life do you think about what pleases God? How often do you consider what fruit your actions bear for Him? I know that it is often a struggle for me to put my mind and heart where they ought to be. This world is so full of distractions, and we have a tendency to care more for what our followers on social media think of us than our Father in Heaven, whom we claim is Lord of our lives.
When we allow the cares of this world to dictate our actions, rather than imagining what pleases Father God, we create a problem in which the standard we have to live up to is as changeable as the people we want to impress. Back in the day, we used to call that “keeping up with the Joneses.” Not only is this counter-biblical, but it is also an impossible task. When we can’t impress the people we want to impress, we either burn ourselves out trying or live with a sense of failure and emptiness. All of it just makes us more and more miserable.
But fear not, because God has given us an answer. In verse twelve, the simple solution awaits: “giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.” If right now, you’re thinking, “that doesn’t sound like much of a solution,” allow me to elaborate.
God has qualified you to share in his heavenly inheritance. Did you get that? Only someone’s children can receive their inheritance. That means that you have been adopted by God. Not only have you been adopted, but you have also been “qualified.” This qualification is God putting his stamp of approval on your life. It requires no action on your part to win Him over; He is already on your side.
There are no Joneses to keep up with, only a loving father who is already giving you his stamp of approval. I think that deserves both thanks to Him and consideration of Him in how you live your life.
When you don’t have to fight for the approval of others, or compete for your place in heaven and your prosperity here on earth, that is a really good life.
Prayer:
God, make me ever more aware of You and my place in Your family, so that I might live this good life as You intend me to. Help me to see myself the way You see me. I’m sorry for seeking others' approval instead of You. Please help me to do better, Amen.