Fully Pleasing --- Colossians

“…That you may be filled wit 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”. 1:9-10

When you cut through all the clutter, every son wants to please his dad in some way. What boy doesn’t, in some way, desire recognition from his father about his accomplishments? Whether it’s riding the bike for the first time without training wheels, getting that first base hit, or catching that first fish, the desire to please is there.

My mom took me down to buy a brand new pair of basketball shoes for my try-outs to the High School basketball team. This was going to work perfectly, six foot two, good speed, and long arms, what a combination for basketball. Besides, my step-dad was a huge sports fan, so I was certain he would be impressed with his son on the high school basketball team. This could be our chance to connect at some level, at least a level he enjoyed, sports. I was pumped and ready. What I failed to realize was it helps if you really knew how to dribble the ball and play the game! My try-out lasted all of five minutes and the coach gave me my walking papers. I was devastated. Not that I didn’t make the team, deep down I knew that was an outside shot, but I didn’t even get the bottom of my new shoes dirty! I didn’t even get a chance and how embarrassing was that going to be to my dad.

I’ll admit, when I got home that afternoon I threw my shoes in the corner and cried. I told my mom my motive and she half way understood, of course I never told my dad. As far as he knew, it was just another tick mark on my list of failures. I knew pleasing him was not going to be an option, so that’s the day I stopped trying.

Do I carry that mess over to my understanding of God? I suspect I do. Does it influence my understanding of what it means to lead a life “fully pleasing to Him”? You can count on it. Nevertheless, this is no High School basketball try-out I’m involved in. This is my life. It is not wholly dependent on me but “Christ in me, the hope of glory!” There is nothing I can do that is good enough outside of grace through faith in the risen Christ, after that it’s a completely new life

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is your* life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.(Ch.3)

Father, the residue of trying to please still lingers. I am not sure how to fully rid myself of it. Yet, I know that with you anything I do is irrelevant except my total dependence on your Son through faith. It is by grace I have been saved! What I do now, matters, there is little doubt about it, just help me keep it in perspective, understanding there is no “cheap grace”. In the name of Jesus, may it be.