“Be filled with the knowledge of [God’s] will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.” (Colossians 1:9-10)
Godly behavior is the result of godly thinking.
Perhaps you’ve heard computer buffs use the term G.I.G.O.: “Garbage In, Garbage Out.” Input determines output. What you feed into a computer is what you’ll get out.
Similarly, what you program into your mind will eventually influence your behavior. That’s why you must expose your mind to things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent, and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8). As one preacher put it, “You should be so saturated with God’s Word that your blood is ‘bibline.’ If you cut yourself, you should bleed Bible verses!” His exaggeration reveals his passion for God’s truth — a passion every believer should share.
Paul prayed that we would “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; [and be] strengthened with all power … for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father” (Colossians 1:10-12).
Those are marvelous Christian characteristics, but how are they achieved? Verse 9 gives us the answer: “Be filled with the knowledge of [God’s] will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” The Greek word translated “filled” speaks of influence or control. It’s the same word Paul uses in Ephesians 5:18: “Be filled [controlled by] the Holy Spirit.” When you’re filled with the Spirit, He governs our choices. Similarly, when you’re filled with the knowledge of God’s will, your choices reflect godly wisdom and understanding.
The phrase “spiritual wisdom and understanding” indicates more than merely knowing God’s Word. It speaks of applying it to your life under the Spirit’s power and direction.
As you prayerfully saturate your mind with God’s Word, it begins more and more to control your thinking and behavior. And the Spirit uses the Word to renew your mind and protect you from conformity to worldly attitudes and actions (Romans 12:2).
Ask the Holy Spirit to control every aspect of your life today. Be diligent to apply the appropriate biblical principles to every circumstance you face. Memorize Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Use this as a reminder to feed your mind with the things that produce godliness.
Prayer
Lord, I ask You to fill my mind with the things that produce godliness, and to increase my knowledge of You through the reading of Your Word. Let all that I do only reflect glory on Your Name.
Stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
