Tag: Colossians 1:9-12

Faithfulness and Fruitfulness

Moses opens the book of Exodus saying, “the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.” (Exodus 1:7, NIV) The language he chooses echoes phrases sprinkled throughout Genesis starting with the Lord’s words to Adam and Eve: “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number.’” (Genesis 1:28a, NIV) This same command with a promise repeats nine times in Genesis as God speaks to Noah (9:1), Abraham (17:2,6 & 22:17), Isaac (26:4), Jacob (28:14 & 35:11) and Joseph (48:4). 

The Lord reveals His faithfulness by blessing His people with fruitfulness. Jacob’s family arrives in Egypt from Canaan with about 70 family members. Over 400 years later, they return to Canaan as a nation of two million.

Just as physical intimacy between a man and a woman bears the fruit of children, intimacy with the Lord brings fruitfulness to our lives in the Kingdom of God.  Jesus explains this saying, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing…This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:5 & 8, NIV)

I’ve been marveling at God’s faithfulness and fruitfulness lately thinking about a person He dropped into my life nine months ago. Over the Christmas holidays I was inspired to pray that the Lord would lead me to a younger woman who wanted mentoring and discipling. Little did I know that there was a 20-year-old girl who, at the same time, was praying God would save her from loneliness and show her His goodness.  

In January, I received an e-mail from the daughter of an old friend from Bible study. She was looking to connect with other believers and wanted information about a women’s Bible study at my church. The next day, she showed up with her Bible in hand, undeterred by the significant age gap between the rest of the group and her. As our meeting wrapped up for the day, I invited her to have coffee with me. 

We clutched paper coffee cups that January afternoon sitting at a table outside in the weak sunlight. It didn’t take long for the conversation to go deep–she was an old soul with wisdom beyond her years. I could see that she had first-hand experience with God’s faithfulness and was eager to grow in her knowledge of His Word and to connect with Christian community. Feeling prompted by the Holy Spirit, I said, “This may sound weird, but I think you’re the answer to something I’ve been praying about lately. Would you be up for meeting with me weekly to talk, pray, and study the Bible?” Without hesitation, she said yes.

I’m still in awe of how God showed His faithfulness and produced incredible fruit in our friendship. As we studied the pages of Scripture together, the Lord used His Word to teach us the way of Jesus. We prayed together, grappled with hard passages, and talked about how to apply what we were reading to real life. Sometimes I asked questions or challenged her to think differently. I also encouraged her to try new things that felt a little scary—like joining a small group of young women and attending an interest meeting to serve on the worship team at church. She was tentative and reserved, but willing to risk. With each new person she met and activity she tried, I watched her bloom like a flower, one petal at a time. 

Tijuana, Mexico

The pace of her blossoming increased when she agreed to join me on our church’s annual trip to build homes in Mexico. On the first evening there, she was hesitant and fearful to lead nightly discussions in her tent, so we prayed together that God would give her confidence and wisdom. And He did. As the week unfolded, I watched the Lord use her to connect with and inspire others. Her tender heart, warm smile, and ability to see beauty in everything and everyone drew people to her. It wasn’t surprising when the students begged her to become a leader at youth group.

Two months later, we lead students together on our church’s annual houseboat trip. She barely resembled the tentative, shy, and lonely young woman I’d shared coffee with six months earlier. I listened with amazement as she spoke words of wisdom and grace to the girls on our boat during small group discussions. Each night, she also sang with the worship band; her passion for Jesus and openness to the Holy Spirit were palpable as she led. It was as if everyone at camp was transported to the throne room of heaven as we sang at the water’s edge.

Our weekly coffee dates have continued, only now she’s fitting them in between time ministering to students, leading worship, and sharing life with others. A few weeks ago, I stood beaming with joy listening to her give her testimony to over 130 students at a public high school. They were riveted. She explained her transformation in a post on Instagram, “I will be honest and say that at the beginning of this year I let loneliness blanket hope. I cried out to the Lord that He would save me, because He has before. I didn’t know how or really fully believe that He could. I prayed prayers I couldn’t imagine He would answer so beautifully, and then I watched Him turn my life around. ‘Taste and see that the Lord is Good.’ The Lord is so good to me. A taste, just a glimmer, and my heart is on fire for Jesus. He keeps His promises.”1

Her words highlight God’s unfaltering faithfulness; abiding in Him produces fruit in our lives. He empowers us to do what Jesus said in Matthew 28:19- “Go and make disciples.” I’ve seen His fruit as I’ve poured into her and walked alongside her. Paul’s prayer in Colossians captures our journey: “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, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 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, NIV). We have experienced the Spirit’s fruit of love, joy, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness in abundance. (Galatians 5:22- 23) It’s all come from abiding with Jesus and inviting the Holy Spirit to have His way in our lives. 

Soon, my sweet friend will be leaving for discipleship training school with Youth with a Mission. I’ll miss her like crazy, but I can’t wait to see what else God has in store for her. Our simple prayers before we met opened the door for the Lord to give each of us joy and fulfillment far beyond what we could have asked or imagined. (Ephesians 3:20) God can do the same in you. Will you commit to walking closely beside Him? Invite Him to use you and watch the fruit He’ll produce in your life as you follow His leading.

The Lord’s faithfulness enables our fruitfulness so that every person can know Him and receive deliverance from sin. Cain’s song “The Commission” is a beautiful rendition of the Great Commission from Matthew 28:19. Click here to listen.

1. Breezy Bochenek, Instagram post 9-14-22. To learn more about Breezy’s story, click here to visit her website.

Post inspired by Week 2 in Jen Wilkin’s God of Deliverance: A Study of Exodus 1-18, Lifeway Press, 2021.

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Strength and Endurance

Stumbling down the dirt trail our feet ached and our knees threatened to buckle beneath us. The muscles in our legs felt weak and weary, but we pressed on. One thing urged us forward: the desperate need for water.

The hike to the top of Yosemite’s Half Dome had been filled with stunning scenery that included rushing waterfalls, granite staircases and majestic pines. It was a sparkling June weekend and my husband and I had been enjoying time away with extended family. A small contingent of our group had decided to brave the all-day adventure to hike to the top of Yosemite’s most iconic landmark. It had been a fun, but grueling day.

Although we’d set out early in the morning with plenty of water, we’d discovered less than half way into our day that a leaky bottle had pooled much of our precious water supply in the bottom of a backpack. We were young and fit and felt invincible, so we’d made the decision to complete the hike anyway, figuring we could ration the rest of our water. By early afternoon, we’d summited Half Dome and had begun the long journey back down the mountain. The exhilaration of achieving our goal faded with each step. The strenuous hike and the lack of water left us parched and fatigued.

At one point the trail paralleled the Merced River and we took a break to cool our aching feet. It required every ounce of self-discipline we had not to drink from the unfiltered water that we knew could make us sick with a nasty parasite called Giardia. As the sun sank low in the sky, we urged each other on, remembering the drinking fountain at the base of the trail. Bending down to take that first sip, I don’t think water has ever tasted so good to me.

Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about the single-minded focus we had at the end of that hike. I’ve had some similar cravings in the past few months, but my thirst has been more spiritual and emotional than physical. It has been an intense season in my life filled with stressful and difficult situations that have left me utterly depleted by the end of each day. Drinking in Scripture consistently and connecting with God in prayer have filled me with the strength I need to face each day’s challenges.

This past Christmas we received a small chalkboard as a gift—one square that had been cut from a large one that hung in my husband’s childhood home. We loved receiving a piece of family history to display in our house. What I’ve appreciated even more is using it to remind myself of the truth I need to drink in daily.

As I pore over the Bible each morning, God seems to draw my attention to certain passages that feel especially relevant in my current season. I’ve been returning to the same ones regularly to renew my mind and sustain me for the day’s challenges. Carefully choosing key words from the verses that speak to me, I write them on our chalkboard as a constant reminder throughout the day. Each time I grab my purse and keys to leave or put them back when I return, the words of truth are there on the wall to give me encouragement.

Right now, the passage that I’ve been mulling over is one that’s appeared a few times in recent posts. I’ve condensed it on my chalkboard focusing on key words.

The full passage says, “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, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 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, NIV).

I pray daily for God to strengthen me with His power so that I can have endurance and patience. Later, I look back and thank Him for carrying me through and giving me exactly what I needed.

Here are a few things I’m trying to remember right now that may benefit you too:

-I don’t want to fall into the trap of feeling invincible, like I did on that Half Dome hike, thinking that I can survive on less than I need. I want to drink continually from the Living Water daily to draw on God’s strength, power and wisdom. I can’t ration it and hope that it carries me for long stretches of time without returning to it.

-I don’t wat to look to lesser things to quench my thirst. The water in the stream would have refreshed us for the moment, but made us sick in the long run. The same is true when we rely on lesser things to quench the thirst that only God can satisfy. Sometimes I’m tempted to anesthetize myself with shallow pleasures like buying something new, watching a funny show, eating a bowl of ice cream, or drinking a glass of wine. In moderation, these things aren’t bad, but ultimately, the comfort they provide won’t sustain or guide me when I face challenges and hardships.

-I need visible reminders of God’s Word to realign my thoughts and to encourage me throughout each day.

Listening to Christian music has been another source of drinking from the Living Water throughout the day. Let the truth of Jeremy Camp’s song “The Answer” encourage you today:

Five Ways to Stay Plugged In

Recently I returned from a mission trip in Mexico. The week away from the normal comforts of home was both inspiring and exhausting. Our group adapted well to riding on bumpy local buses to and from our worksites, doing manual labor without power tools, camping in tents, attempting to bathe with water slowly draining from a plastic “sun shower,” and even using port-a-potties with a rather pungent aroma. But there was one comfort of home that most people couldn’t do without: cell phones. While they were used mostly for taking photos and communicating with family back home, they appeared to be the one convenience that was indispensable.

The first year I went on the trip my eyes widened as I observed students clamoring for any outlet they could find to charge their phones. Every plug at the fast-food restaurants where we stopped on the way would be charging phones from the moment we arrived until the moment we left. Some creative students even hung phones from ceiling outlets.

My first year on the trip, I was fortunate enough to be on a worksite with a foreman who had a truck and a phone charger. I never had to jockey for position at a power strip in camp during the few hours the generators were running. Every year since then, I’ve relied on my first foreman to be my power source and he has graciously obliged. On our most recent trip, I scurried to his truck before program one evening and plugged in my phone. When I returned later, I was disappointed to see that it hadn’t charged at all. A quick investigation revealed that the cord had been unplugged from the lighter to make room for a different type of charger. I just hadn’t noticed in my haste. No matter how long my phone remained plugged into that cord, it was worthless without a power source.

And what is true for our all-important technology is even more essential in our spiritual lives. We simply can’t function well when we’re not consistently connected with our Power Source, God. Maybe this is the twenty-first century equivalent of abiding with the vine that Jesus describes in John 15.

I’ve been mulling over another passage on this theme written by Paul and Timothy:

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, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 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 1:9b-12, NIV)

The prayers offered by Paul and Timothy in this passage show the value and necessity of staying plugged into God for the source of our power. As we do that, we receive wisdom and understanding from the Spirit so that we bear fruit and grow, continually strengthened with His power so that we have endurance, patience and joy.

As summer approaches, most of us look forward to a break from our regular routines. We anticipate the ease of a relaxing vacation at the beach or the excitement of traveling abroad. Leisurely days reading a book by the pool or finally tackling a project on our to-do lists sound inviting after the rigors of the year.

What is unfortunate, however, is that for many of us a break from gathering for a large-group Bible study also equates with a break from our spiritual lives altogether. This is like hoping the charge on your phone will last throughout the summer without bothering to plug it in. It won’t.

So before you kick up your feet and revel in the newly opened places in your schedule, why not plan how you’ll stay connected to your Power Source during the break from your usual Bible study? Need some suggestions? Well, I’m glad you asked…

  1. Choose a new devotional to read daily. Take the time to do the suggested activities and to read and study the Scriptures included. Instead of rushing through it, make the time to absorb what it says.  Here are several I’d recommend:
  • Embraced: 100 Devotionals to Know God is Holding You Close by Lysa TerKeurst
  • Awaken by Priscilla Shirer
  • Encouragement for Today by the Proverbs 31 Ministry Team

2. Choose a book of the Bible and keep a journal. After each chapter, stop and answer these four questions:

  • What does this teach me about God
  • What does this teach me about myself?
  • What do I need to do as a result of reading this passage?
  • What character qualities do I see in God displayed in this passage? (Questions adapted from Day 5 lessons in Finding I Am by Lysa TerKeurst)

3. Choose a Bible study to go through or finish a Bible study workbook that you didn’t complete during the year. Invite a few friends to do it with you.  Take the time to let the lessons sink in and then apply them to your life. Schedule times when you can meet during the summer to discuss what you’re learning. Text or e-mail each other in between meetings so you can hold one another accountable.  Here are several I’d recommend:

  •  The Quest by Beth Moore
  • Becoming a Vessel God Can Use by Donna Partow
  • Women of the Word: The Family Tree of Jesus by Marybeth McCullum (I’ve revised and updated this since it was done at Focused Living in 2015-16) Click here for more information

4. Read a book to gain deeper insight on a topic you want to learn about. Get some biblical perspective from a trusted Christian author.  Here are a few I’d recommend:

  • Love Does by Bob Goff
  • Chasing God by Roger Huang (founder of SF City Impact and SF City Academy)
  • I Give You Authority by Charles Kraft
  • Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi
  • Flourish by Natalie Maki (An author from CPC Danville!!)
  • The Peacemaker by Ken Sande
  • Fervant by Priscilla Shirer
  • Forgive and Forget by Lewis Smedes
  • The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns (revised and updated)
  • Surprised by Hope by NT Wright

5. Subscribe to an online study or devotional from one of your favorite Christian authors. You can start by subscribing to this blog if you don’t already. I’ll be posting throughout the summer.  Scroll back to the top of this post, look at the right side of the screen and you’ll see the heading “Subscribe to Blog Via E-mail.” Just fill in your e-mail address and click the blue “subscribe” button. Be sure to confirm your subscription the first time you receive an e-mail from this site. You might also check out the offerings at Proverbs 31.org. (The ministry founded by Lysa TerKeurst.)

Whatever ideas you decide to try, make it a priority to continue engaging your faith. My prayer is that you’ll connect to your spiritual Power Source during the summer months with the same consistency that you charge your electronic devices. Happy summer!