Archive for March, 2010

I’m almost always in the mood for a western. Not the new icky Lonesome Dove kind. I like the old white hat/John Wayne kind. Where good guys stand up for right and win. Where there is a right. Where there’s a satisfying ending. The Silverado-Open Range-Gunsmoke kind of westerns. Someone once called them America’s knights-in-shining-armor stories.

I read recently that Wyoming’s governor has now made 10 principles derived from “”the Code of the West”  a symbolic part of state law.*

Folks in Wyoming are officially urged to:

… live courageously, take pride in their work, finish what they start, do what’s necessary, be tough but fair, keep promises, ride for the brand, talk less and say more, remember that some things aren’t for sale, and know where to draw the line.

Sounds like good ethics for Christians to follow too. How ’bout it – wanna join me ‘n ride for our brand?

*reported by Associated Press

… 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. (Col. 1:9-10)

Paul’s prayer for the Colossians gives us another glimpse of a life that pleases God.

That word filled literally means to cram full. Adds something to the picture doesn’t it! He’s not looking for a nice polite kind of full. Paul wants them so full that it’s been squished down and packed to the brim. Imagine knowing and understanding God’s will that well.

And there is a reason for it. It’s not just to say “got that” and check it off a list.

We’re supposed to walk, that is live. That knowledge means we’ll know how to live in a manner worthy of him. To live in a way that adds to his reputation and makes him proud.

Fully (that is all and every way) pleasing him.

And bearing fruit. Only a living plant bears fruit. First, we show we’re alive by the things we do. And second, by increasing (growing) in the knowledge of God.

This time, in verse 10, Paul uses a different word for knowledge. This one carries the idea of recognition or discernment.

I wonder if it is like exercise. The more you use the knowledge you have, the more you walk worthy, and the more you are able to recognize what will please him. And walk worthier.

What a prayer! And, of course, you realize that prayer is for us, too. We can pray it – and we can live it!

Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
(Psalms 37:3–6 ESV)

Here’s one description of a life that pleases God. The word trust carries the idea of being confident, bold. We are to be confident in the Lord – bold in him – and do good. It’s not just generic boldness. It’s the boldness to do good. To do what Jesus would do.

But then he goes on to say dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Dwell has the idea of permanency to it. It’s not a hotel for a night. It’s living there.

The word that surprised me was befriend. Befriend faithfulness. When I looked it up, I found that the Hebrew can also be translated as pasture it, tend a flock, or pastor.  What a picture! Faithfulness doesn’t just happen. We have to nurture it.  Feed it. Give it what it needs to be healthy. Faithfulness is active.

And if we do those things – trust – do good – dwell – befriend faithfulness – delight in the Lord then he will give us the desires of our heart.

But what are they?

The first things that might come to mind are things like healthy children or a nice house. But look deeper. Verse 6 tells us what those desires really are. Righteousness.

Imagine it!

Revelation says “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” But this goes even further.

If we live this way. God will act.

Commit you way to the Lord. Trust in him. And God will act. Not only will we not have to mourn our sins anymore – we’ll be spotless. Wholly righteous. Shining like the sun.