Paul prays for the Colossian church to continue to be fruitful regarding their commission to make disciples. Colossians 1:9-10 says, “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work…”
I might argue that the first requirement in “bearing fruit” is to conduct our lives in a manner that’s fully pleasing to God. There is even some suggestion that when we do that, he takes care of the fruit. Paul’s driving motive in life was to please God. He tells us that often. He even exhorts us to test everything in life in order to “learn what is pleasing to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10).
I find it interesting that the Greek term for excellence is derived from the same root as the verb that means “to please.” In Colossians 3:23-24 we will read, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” In his fine book, Excellence, John Gardner says, “Some people have greatness thrust upon them. Very few have excellence thrust upon them. They achieve it. They do not achieve it unwittingly by ‘doing what comes naturally’ and they don’t stumble into it in the course of amusing themselves. All excellence involves discipline and tenacity of purpose.”
As “disciplind” followers of Jesus, we should try to please God by striving for excellence in carrying out our mission to make disciples.
Chuck
“…if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8