Colossians 1:10

We see here the next three requests of Paul in his prayers for these believers. 

He speaks of the aim that they should seek – “to walk worthy.” This is the result of knowing God’s Will. Just having a knowledge is not sufficient, one must “walk” correctly. The term walk (Greek peripateo) carries the concept and meaning of to regulate one's life, or to conduct one's self. It is from a Hebrew idiom that Paul is deriving this statement.[1] Right conduct of life is never the result of wrong knowledge, only correct knowledge can produce right conduct. Our lives should be Christ-centered (Gal. 2:20).

The term “worthy” (Greek axios) does not mean that we are deserving, it means we are living in accordance to the Gospel, we are living in a manner worthy of our relationship with God. We must remember that we are never worthy to be saved, but that we strive to live in a manner that makes us in line with Him.

The second petition of Paul and Timothy’s continual prayer for the Colossians was that they might be pleasing to God. They were not bowing down to man, not seeking human favor. They were to seek God’s favor in every way, in everything, at all times. We are so prone to be men-pleasers, forgetting that there is only one to whom we need to please – and that is the Father.

The third request that they make is that the believers would be fruitful. As Christians, we should be continually bearing fruit for the Master. We are reminded of Christ’s discourse in John 15 about the Vine and the branches. He is the Vine, and we are the fruit-bearing branches. If we have a close, connected relationship with the Christ, we must bear fruit (john 15:8). This is evidence that a believer is in a right relationship with Jesus.

The fourth request of the five is that they would not be static, but fully alive and growing in the Word of God. A fruit-bearing tree is a growing tree. This petition for them, contains both the sphere where this growth takes place, and also the means of this growth.[2] The result of knowing God’s Will is that the believer will walk in a manner that demonstrates his or her relationship with Christ. 

Prayer: Jesus, as I am a branch connected to You, the Vine, may I be fruitful in everything that I do. May all that I do be pleasing and acceptable in Your sight. Amen.

_________________________________________

[1] George Wigram, New Englishman’s Greek-English Concordance & Lexicon (Lafayette, Indiana: Sovereign Grace Publishers, 1982). Page 704, and Perschbacher, Wesley J., ed. The New Analytical Greek Lexicon. Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc, 1990. Page 323. 

[2] In 2 Peter 3:18 (ASV), we read – “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”