Note 20 at Col. 1:10: Being filled with the knowledge of God's will as Paul described in the previous verse results in all the benefits listed in this verse and also those of verse 11. There is no way we can walk worthy of the Lord and please Him if we don't know His will, and we can't be fruitful without the knowledge of His will either. Knowing God's will is not a one time experience. We increase in the knowledge of His will.

As we experience these blessings, then the results will be as verse 11 describes. We will be strengthened through God's "power unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness."

Note 21 at Col. 1:10: Being filled with the knowledge of God (v.9) results in a lifestyle that is pleasing unto the Lord.

"Walk" in the scriptures is used many times figuratively to indicate a pattern of conduct or lifestyle (1 Jn. 1:7; 2 Jn. 6; 3 Jn. 3,4). Here it also suggests acting in conformity to our union with Christ (Rom. 7:4). We are to walk "worthy" of the Lord, a Greek term AXIOS, which means a lifestyle of "equal weight" to the object with which it is compared (Vine).

How could we possibly "walk worthy of the Lord"? The answer is that we can't if we try in our own strength. Jesus said, "without me ye can do nothing" (Jn. 15:5) and with Him you can "do all things" (Phil. 4:13). The secret to the Christian life is living from the strength and resources of Christ Himself (Gal. 2:20). As Martin Luther (1483-1546) stated in one of the most powerful hymns of the Protestant Reformation, "Did we in our own strength confide our striving would be losing, were not the right man on our side, the Man of God's own choosing" (The Hymn - A Mighty Fortress is our God).

Note 22 at Col. 1:10: Paul states, "that ye may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing." The Greek word for "pleasing" used here is ARESKEIA, and means a "desire to please" (Thayer).

What pleases the Lord? Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him." Therefore faith certainly pleases the Lord. This God-pleasing faith is specifically a faith in God's grace and not in our acts of holiness. If our faith is in our actions then that type of faith is not pleasing to the Lord (Rom. 8:8).

Once our faith for justification is in the Lord and not in ourselves, then there are things that we can do which are pleasing to the Lord. Colossians 3:20 says that children obeying their parents is "well pleasing unto the Lord." Doing good and giving of our finances is pleasing to the Lord (Heb. 13:16). Offering prayers, especially to all in authority pleases the Lord (1 Tim. 2:3 [NIV]). Basically a lifestyle consistent with the Word pleases God if it originates from a heart of love and faith.

Hebrews 11:5 states that before Enoch's translation he pleased God. Therefore, pleasing the Lord is possible and it has great reward. We need to "find out what PLEASES the Lord" (Eph. 5:10 [NIV]).

Note 23 at Col. 1:10: In this verse the emphasis is upon every good work bearing fruit. We could say that Paul is praying that the Colossians' lives will produce all kinds of good works through their union with Christ and that their lives will continue to keep growing and producing this fruit. Good works are often spoken of as being the fruit of our salvation, not the root (see note 2 at Rom. 6:22, p. 784; see note 2 at Gal. 6:12, p. 1089; Eph. 2:8-10; 1 Jn. 3:10).

The scripture describes "fruit" in a variety of ways; among them are: fruit in keeping with repentance (Mt. 3:8), good and evil fruit (Mt. 7:17), fruits of the kingdom of God (Mt. 21:43), fruit unto eternal life (Jn. 4:36), the fruit of abiding in Christ's life (Jn. 15:5), fruit of discipleship (Jn. 15:8), the fruit or harvest of souls (Rom. 1:13), fruit unto holiness (Rom. 6:22), fruit unto God (Rom. 7:4), fruits of righteousness (2 Cor. 9:10), the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), fruit of goodness, righteousness and truth (Eph. 5:9), fruit of my labour (Phil. 1:22), fruit of giving (Phil. 4:17), fruit of the gospel (Col. 1:6), fruitful in good works (Col. 1:10), the fruit of our lips giving thanks to God (Heb. 13:15).

Note 24 at Col. 1:10: Even Jesus had to increase in knowledge (Lk. 2:52). That's an awesome truth. Jesus was God in the Spirit but he had a physical mind that had to be educated. He had to be taught how to walk, talk, eat, and so forth. And at twelve years of age, he was not only teaching the teachers in the temple, but he was asking them questions (Lk. 2:46). If Jesus had to grow in wisdom, how could any of us think that we have it all figured out?