Setting Goals

Trike TrackLiving in the Spirit
July 7, 2016

Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:1-14

For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. –Colossians 1:9-10

I score high on being a goal oriented person and am totally capable of driving my process friends and co-workers crazy. With that caveat, I must say I appreciate Paul setting forth our ultimate goals as followers of Christ in the first section of his letter to the Colossians:

  • Lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him
  • Bear fruit in every good work
  • Grow in the knowledge of God

How much are we dedicated in our daily lives to these three goals? What does it mean to lead a life worthy of the Lord? Assuming that all our works are good in the first place, do we routinely assess whether they are bearing fruit? I was recently a part of a discussion about upgrading a playground when someone said he would like to see a track built to circle the area. That immediately made no sense to me. Why would anyone want children riding a little train around and around in an enclosed place with stockade fencing getting no exercise or educational benefit? I misunderstood. The track was a trike track where children could safely ride while getting tons of good exercise, a primary purpose of a playground. And finally, what are we doing to grow in the knowledge of God?

Of course, Paul leads off our scripture today with his commitment to praying without ceasing for our communion with God is crucial to understanding God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Prayer: Lord, help me never to stop learning about your way and your truth. Forgive me when I push ahead without consulting you or when I perceive your will through my self-limited frame of understanding.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.