Complete in Christ: Knowing God’s Will and Walking Worthy

Devotional

Day 1: Layers of History Beneath Your Feet

The ancient tell of Colossae holds centuries of stories beneath its soil. Like archeologists uncovering layers of civilization, believers dig into Scripture to discover God’s unchanging truth across generations. This tangible hill reminds us that faith is built not on shifting trends but on the accumulated wisdom of God’s redemptive work. Just as Paul rooted his letter in Christ’s eternal sufficiency, we anchor our lives in the same enduring foundation. The past informs our present calling. [02:24]

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”
(Colossians 1:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: What “layers” of tradition or worldly philosophy have you unknowingly allowed to accumulate over your understanding of Christ’s sufficiency? How might you intentionally excavate them this week?

Day 2: Assembling the Puzzle Without Corners

Life often feels like a circular puzzle with no edges—a bowl of popcorn kernels where every piece seems identical. Paul urges believers to persist in fitting together Scripture’s truths, even when the picture remains unclear. True understanding comes not from forcing pieces into place but by trusting the Designer’s blueprint. The process itself trains us to rely on Christ, the center holding every fragment together. [16:03]

“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 the Spirit gives.”
(Colossians 1:9, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you been trying to “force” a Scripture passage to fit your expectations? What might change if you let the text reshape your perspective instead?

Day 3: The Never-Ending Inheritance Letter

Paul’s prayer for strangers in Colossae mirrors the pastor’s letters discovered in a flower vase—unexpected treasures revealing heart-level investment. God’s Word is an ongoing love letter, its truths unfolding fresh relevance across decades and cultures. Just as Epaphras carried gospel truth to his city, we’re called to steward and share the inheritance we’ve received. [09:51]

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.”
(Colossians 1:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: If someone found a “letter” of your spiritual journey 50 years from now, what would it reveal about your present pursuit of Christ’s fullness?

Day 4: Walking Worthy of the Maple Leaf Puzzle

Attempting a circular hockey rink puzzle teaches humility—the ice looks identical until you study its lines. Paul insists that biblical knowledge must become active obedience: “walk in a manner worthy.” Like a player following arena markings, disciples thrive by staying within the boundaries of God’s wisdom. Our “skating” glorifies Him when aligned with His playbook. [20:32]

“So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might.”
(Colossians 1:10-11, ESV)

Reflection: What current “shift” in your life feels like gliding on featureless ice? How could scriptural boundaries provide traction and direction?

Day 5: Completion in the Firstborn of Creation

The Colossian heresy claimed Jesus wasn’t enough—a lie still marketed through self-help spirituality and emotional mysticism. Paul demolishes this by anchoring everything in Christ’s primacy: creation’s architect, the church’s head, the cross’s victor. Just as a tell’s layers all point to one city’s story, every Scripture strand converges on His supremacy. [19:42]

“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
(Colossians 1:13-14, ESV)

Reflection: What subtle “add-on” have you been tolerating as a supplement to grace? How does Christ’s finished work render it unnecessary?

Sermon Summary

Paul writes to believers in Colossae whom he has never met, yet whom he knows through Epaphras, the man who heard the gospel in Ephesus and carried it home to plant churches. The letter comes into a place where false teaching says Jesus is not enough. Human philosophy, legalism, mysticism, angel worship, and the search for something extra all try to push their way into the gospel. Paul answers all of it with one clear truth: in Jesus, believers have been made complete.

The repeated words all, filled, and fullness show where Paul is going. Jesus is all and all. Jesus has been all and all since creation, and Jesus will be all and all until the very end. The gospel does not need outside pieces added to it in order to make people more holy, more protected, or more spiritual. Christ is sufficient.

Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9 begins with a desire that the church would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. This knowledge is not information sitting on a shelf. It is knowledge that has to be gained and then shapes the way a person lives. God’s will is not presented as a hidden code for every life decision. God’s will is obedience to His Word as children of God.

Spiritual wisdom takes that knowledge and applies it rightly. Wisdom does not simply come with age. Wisdom comes when truth is understood and lived out. Understanding then brings the pieces together. Paul’s picture can be seen like a puzzle: God’s Word puts all the pieces on the table, wisdom starts finding the edges, and understanding begins to see the big picture.

Paul starts building that puzzle from the edges by taking the church back to creation. Christ is the firstborn over creation, and all things were created in Him and through Him. The finished picture stays before the believer as the guide, so that life does not begin in the confusing middle but in the sure truth of who Jesus is.

Paul connects knowledge, wisdom, and understanding with the words “so that.” The purpose is a walk worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. The Christian life never arrives at a point where growth is finished. Christ continues to strengthen His people with steadfastness, patience, and joyful gratitude because the Father has rescued them from darkness and transferred them into the kingdom of His beloved Son.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus is completely sufficient Christ does not need human philosophy, religious rule-keeping, mystical practices, or spiritual extras added to Him. The search for “more” can quietly become a denial that Jesus is enough. Christ gives the fullness that false teaching always promises but cannot provide. [07:51]
2. Knowledge must shape everyday life Paul’s knowledge is not mere Bible information or the ability to repeat facts. God’s truth calls for work, attention, and a life changed by what has been learned. God’s will becomes clear as obedience to His Word takes root in ordinary decisions. [12:05]
3. Wisdom applies truth rightly Wisdom is knowledge rightly applied, not simply knowledge possessed. A person can know many true things and still fail to walk in them. Spiritual maturity grows when biblical truth moves from the mind into actual obedience. [14:15]
4. Understanding sees God’s larger picture Understanding works like putting a puzzle together, beginning with the sure edges of God’s revealed truth. Christ and creation give the starting point, not personal confusion or shifting human ideas. God’s Word provides the finished picture that helps each piece find its place. [18:58]
5. A worthy walk keeps growing Paul connects knowing God with walking in a way that pleases God. Fruitfulness does not mean perfection or arrival, but ongoing growth in the knowledge of God. Christ strengthens this walk because the Father has already rescued His people and given them an inheritance in light. [20:32]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:41] - Visiting Ancient Colossae
[03:32] - Epaphras Plants the Church
[04:56] - Jesus Is Sufficient
[08:27] - Paul’s Prayer for Colossae
[10:24] - Filled With God’s Will
[11:46] - Knowledge That Changes Life
[13:56] - Wisdom Rightly Applied
[15:05] - Understanding Like a Puzzle
[20:04] - Walking Worthy of the Lord
[21:48] - Strength, Rescue, and Redemption
[23:23] - The Challenge to Know and Walk

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Colossians 1:9-12
“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” [10:32]

Colossians 1:15
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” [19:17]

Colossians 1:13-14
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” [22:13]

Observation questions

In Colossians 1:9–12, what does Paul continually pray that the believers will be filled with, and what three closely connected words describe it?
What results does Paul connect with being filled with the knowledge of God’s will, spiritual wisdom, and understanding in Colossians 1:10? [20:18]
According to Colossians 1:11–12, what qualities does God’s strength produce, and what reason does Paul give for joyful gratitude?
In Colossians 1:13–15, what has the Father done for believers, and how does Christ’s relationship to creation help establish His greatness? [22:13]

Interpretation questions

Paul prays for knowledge of God’s will rather than a detailed answer to every future decision. How does understanding God’s will as obedience to His Word change the way believers seek guidance? [13:18]
Why is it important that Paul joins knowledge with spiritual wisdom and understanding? What can go wrong when someone knows biblical facts but does not apply them in daily life? [14:15]
Paul says believers should walk in a manner worthy of the Lord while also continuing to increase in the knowledge of God. How does this protect believers from thinking that spiritual growth means either perfection or merely gaining more information? [21:13]
How do the Father’s rescue from darkness, transfer into the Son’s kingdom, and redemption through Christ give believers a foundation for patience, endurance, and gratitude? [21:48]

Application questions

Where are you most tempted to look for something “extra” beyond Jesus—self-improvement, religious performance, personal experiences, advice, or some other source of security? How does Christ’s sufficiency speak into that temptation? [07:25]
What is one clear area where you already know what God’s Word calls you to do, but you need wisdom to put that truth into practice this week?
When life feels confusing, what “edges” of biblical truth about Jesus, creation, salvation, or God’s character can help you begin to see the bigger picture? [19:17]
Paul describes a worthy walk as pleasing God, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in knowledge of Him. Which of these areas needs the most attention in your life right now, and what would one small faithful step look like?
Where do you need Christ’s strength for steadfastness or patience right now? How might remembering that God has already rescued you from darkness shape your attitude in that situation? [21:48]
What regular habit could help God’s Word move beyond information in your mind and become truth that shapes your choices—reading, memorizing, discussing Scripture, praying, or serving someone? [22:27]

Sermon Clips

51s

#WordStudy

“What's he tell us here? As we study the word of god, as we come to get an, put the picture together and have some wisdom, knowledge rightly applied, understanding the scripture, we will walk. Our Christian walk will be pleasing to God. And that's Paul's prayer. He he starts the letter with this and he says, my great desire for you who I have never ever met is that you know the word of God, that you understand the word of God, and that you walk worthy of the Lord.”

41s

#WalkWorthy

“My prayer for Canada as I travel around is that very prayer. That as I teach people to study the word of God, that they would come to the knowledge, the understanding, and then walk in a manner pleasing to God. And that is the challenge for you. Do you know the word of God? Do you understand the word of God? And do you walk in a manner pleasing of him? All things that you can take before the Lord this week as you remember what God is teaching us through the apostle Paul.”

36s

#GodsWill

“How many people sit and wonder, I wonder what God's will is for my life. Does God have a plan for me? Am I just supposed to go about my time on this earth and I don't have a mission for myself and what I need to accomplish? God here, his will can be understood to be this. His will is obedience to his word.”

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