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Pleasing God: by joyfully living as light in the Lord

We have not stopped—asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: —joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 
Colossians 1:9-12
 
Joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light—that we do today.

The qualifying factor is enormous: without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6). Everyone stumbles around in the dark without Jesus. Once qualified to share in the inheritance by the grace of God, His children bask in the light of the Lamb. It is a strong, glorious, mighty light within, maintained by the Spirit, keeper of God’s lighthouse.

A child of light actually becomes light in the Lord: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord (Ephesians 5:8-10). Hmmm—never really thought of myself as light.

What does light do? Amongst other things, light produces and ripens fruit according to Paul, specifically the fruit of goodness, righteousness and truth. Remember the trees in God’s orchard, laden with the grace fruit of the gospel (Colossians 1:6)? Son light ripened God’s grace. Now that you are light in the Son, you get to play a role in the ripening process by living as children of the light.

How to live as children of the light? Live your life out being kind to everyone (goodness); being biblically moral or correct (righteousness); being sincere, genuine, authentic (truth). These three characteristics will highlight the grace of God in you. As you can trust light, even a sliver of light in a room, to make the darkness go away, so too can you make a difference in the darkness around you by illuminating the grace fruit within.  

Ladies, has our search this week for the way to please God not given you much personal joy? I thank You Father that You have made us light in You. May we truly affect the darkness around us in a way pleasing to You.

Nancy P

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