"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way:
bearing fruit in every good work,
growing in the knowledge of God,
being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and
giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light."
~ Colossians 1:9-12When I was quoting this one recently, I was noticing this list of verbs -- actions that please God and enable you to live a worthy life (inherent in all these things is faith) -- bearing fruit, growing, being strengthened, giving joyful thanks.
And, these verbs are not passive or past tense, but instead, they are present tense, active things we need to be doing all the time! While we cannot control the bearing fruit and being strengthened ones which are the Spirit's job working in you, we can proactively grow and give joyful thanks!
Go get 'em!
