In All Its Truth

One of my deepest fears is that, no matter what I do or how hard I try, my actions just won't be enough. I'm afraid of my own inadequacy.

Check this out:

We have heard of your... faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth. -from Colossians 1:4-5

The Colossians' faith and love, Paul says, comes from their hope. But where does the hope come from?

All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. -Colossians 1:6b

The truth of God's overwhelming grace has gotten to them. That's where they get their hope. And that hope manifests not just in emotion, but action. They bear fruit, and it looks like faith and love.

Paul goes on to describe the life he's praying that they'll experience. The life that God meant them to have. He talks about good works. Knowledge. Power. Endurance. Patience. Joy. Thankfulness. (see Colossians 1:10-12)

He leads off the list with the one that's hardest for me to believe: a life that pleases God.

There may always be parts of our lives that don't please God. But there are those that do. He loves when we get it right, and even when we try and fail. He loves us. He's proven that.

Oh, how He's proven that.

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. -Colossians 1:13-14

May we all understand His grace. May it humble us and encourage us. May we seek to please Him, and thank Him that we can.