Child of God (Part 2)
1 Colossians 1:10-13 , John 14: 26, Galatians 3:26, Proverbs 3: 5-6
As we continue from last week, let us look at the last part of Colossians 1:10 as we read it is understanding and gaining knowledge of God that pleases Him. As a child of God, it is not enough to just know the history of the biblical church or stories of what God and Jesus did as written in the Bible. But it is to have a personal relationship and a desire to know God as we strive to learn to do what He wants us to do in all areas of our lives. God will change our hearts and renew our life by the working of the Holy Spirit. Those who see the changes that are made in our lives will want to know about this change. We will become a witness to those who seek what has changed our life.
Paul continues in Chapter 1, verse 11 of Colossians, saying that living as a child of God is powerful living. We are “being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might.” As we go through our journey on the earth, we have many days when we don’t think we can please God. We may believe some of the areas of our life are too messed up to be changed. As we believe and develop a complete trust in God, we begin to realize the power we need to please God. We realize that to be an obedient child doesn’t come from our own strength, but from the Holy Spirit in our lives. As Alistair Begg puts it, “it is not our aspiration, nor our determination, nor our perspiration that can take the place of the inspiration that is part of our Christian living.” That inspiration as we get to know God on a personal level is given to us by the Helper, the Holy Spirit. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in May name, He will teach you, all things and bring to your remembrance all that I say to you.” John 14:26. We can be assured as we grow and mature in Christ, we will show others the fruit of a joyful and powerful life as God gives us the endurance and patience for our new life.
Finally, as children of God, we must be thankful of the life God helps us to live when we hear His call, listen to His instructions and follow them. We are to always be “giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints of light.” 1 Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks for what in our life? Thankful for the salvation from the sin in our life. “For He has delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son. 1 Colossians 1:13 Thankful for the relationship He wants us to have with Him. Thankful that we are children of God in His family. No longer orphans, but we “are all the sons and daughters of God through faith in Jesus Christ.” Galatians 3:26
As a child of God we will trust in our Lord and learn what is right and good to please Him. If not, we will be like a lost child as we continue to do what pleases us by seeking our selfish desires or pleasing those of mankind. We must understand that God sent the Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith and help make our paths straight towards Zion’s gate. As the words in the book of Proverbs tell us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6.