Welcome again to Walking With Christ. I'm Jeremy, and I really appreciate you downloading this devotional today. This devotional series is a short time we set aside to reflect on a portion of Scripture contextually, thoughtfully, and humbly. We seek not only to understand God's Word just a little bit better, but also to apply it and to let it shape how we live, think, and walk with Christ each and every day. Today in our study of Colossians, we're looking at chapter 1, verses 10 and 11, and what it means to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. We'll be reading from the ESV, and again, if you've got your Bible, that's Colossians 1, verses 10 and 11. Paul writes there, 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, being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy. For the Bible student, you may notice this is not the first time that Paul has instructed a church to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. He said the same thing to the Ephesians in chapter 4 verse 1, to the Philippians in chapter 1 verse 27, and the Thessalonians in chapter 2 verse 12. In many of our previous studies, we've seen the importance of maintaining a thriving faith, and that is one that produces fruit and has tangible evidence of the Spirit working in our lives. Christianity is not a passive religion, and saving faith is more than a one-time event where we just raise a hand at church, accept Jesus into our hearts, and then never think about it again. It doesn't work that way. Salvation is not fire insurance, if you know what I mean. Being a true disciple of Christ involves obedience and daily surrender of our will to Christ's lordship over our lives, and that's why we call Him the Lord Jesus Christ. And because of this, we must walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. But what does this mean practically speaking? Thankfully, Paul explains it right here in this passage. Looking through these few verses, we see this walk comprises having a true faith in Christ, loving other believers, hoping for heaven, and of course, sharing and living out the truth of the gospel both inwardly and outwardly. This bearing fruit in every good work, it blesses us, those around us, and most importantly, it blesses God. In doing so, we are strengthened with all power according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy. Many people often quote Philippians 4 verse 13, I can do all things through Him who strengthens me, thinking that God will give them the strength to win a ball game or to make it through a busy work week. But the context of that verse is about Paul's troubles and tribulations, and he was discussing his ability to be content in all situations, especially the hard ones. Reference Philippians 4 verses 10-20. And likewise, when we look at verse 11 here, we must think about the last portion of that sentence, for all endurance and patience with joy. The word endurance in the Greek is more often translated as patience in the English, and Strong's dictionary defines it as, "...the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings." And the English word patience in this sentence in the Greek is more often translated into English as long-suffering. So both of the words Paul used here refer to patiently enduring trials, tribulations, and suffering. The strength God gives us when we walk in a manner worthy of the Lord Jesus is not to win a big game or to make it through Bay Area traffic during the morning commute, although I admit that is a great tribulation, but instead it is to endure real hardships with patience, knowing that God is in control. This boils down to faith and trust that God has our back even when it doesn't seem like it. The Spirit gives us the power to endure tribulations and significant suffering with patience and yes, even joy. And as you can imagine, this is not something mustered from within. But instead, it is both an inward and an outward sign of our salvation and the amazing grace and love that God shows His children. The Apostle Paul was intimately acquainted with suffering. His life in Christ was one of extreme hardship, and yet his joy in the Lord, and even his joy in enduring trials for God's glory, exudes from the pages of his thirteen epistles. And this same joy is available to us even today if we commit ourselves to walking in a manner worthy of the Lord. And that means putting less effort into earthly ambitions, loving others as ourselves, and pursuing Christ with a whole heart. The good thing is, God does much of this hard work in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. But it still takes our continued effort, submission, obedience, and commitment to walking the narrow path for His work in us to bear that eternal fruit for His kingdom. Again, thank you so much for downloading this devotional. I truly appreciate it. And thank you so much for spending just a few minutes in God's Word with me. As you go about the rest of your day, remember the words of Colossians 2, verse 6. Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him. Have a blessed day.