The Family Business

Colossians 1:9-14
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. May you be 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. 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.
        
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Observations:

• being filled with knowledge of God’s will, spiritual wisdom, and understanding, all have a specific purpose: to live in a way that is worthy of Jesus Christ, to be wholly pleasing to him, to bear fruit by doing the good works he has planned for us. Not only this, but also to increase in this knowledge. There are purposes to increase in spiritual wisdom. It is a dangerous, and unbiblical thing, to gain more wisdom, more biblical knowledge, take more Bible college courses, join more study groups, listen to more sermons, if there is no output. Soaking up information and wisdom without applying it and turning it into good works that glorify God and transform our hearts is nothing more than information gluttony.
• This requires us to be strengthened with power, which comes from God himself for he is mighty. This strength is not just outward strength, but allows us to be patient and enduring with a divine joy; which in turn causes us to be a thankful people to God the Father.
• All of this so far (growing in spiritual wisdom, good works, being patient, joyful, and thankful), is still not the full measure of being a Christian. We aren’t just to be wise, patient, joyful, and thankful. Paul says that we have been qualified to share in an inheritance. What is this inheritance?
• All of us were once slaves in “the domain of darkness” where we didn’t know how offensive our sin was to others and to a holy God. In Jesus, we have redemption, and the forgiveness of our sins, but that’s not all we have. Paul makes it clear that we have been delivered and transferred. Jesus doesn’t just give me a pardon for my sins and the proverbial “ticket to heaven.” He qualifies me for something I was previously unqualified for. I am transferred to a new reality, a new life, a completely new assignment. I am transferred to the kingdom of Jesus Christ.
• With this transfer, I have a certain purpose and assignment. It’s not just to be a good citizen and stay out of trouble. The inheritance is a holy kingdom. In our world, no one would join a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:6) without some sense of a certain duty or calling. This is exactly what we are transferred to; it’s who we’ve become. There’s no way around it. To be “delivered” means to be moved from one destination to another. To be transferred means to exchange one thing for another. We give up the domain of darkness to join the kingdom of God. And this kingdom is an inheritance.
• The inheritance God gives his saints is not wealth or money or possessions or land; it’s a share in heaven. But it’s not just citizenship. When a son inherits the family business, the responsibility of operating that business falls on his shoulders. He needs to decide how he’s going to do that. Is he going to let others do the work for him while he sits idly by and enjoys the riches he now has, avoiding his responsibility; or is he going to take ownership and fulfill the role that only he can fulfill as the heir of the inheritance?
• This is our role: we are the heirs of God’s inheritance; his kingdom; his “family business.” Will I sit by and be Billy Madison, enjoying the luxuries of my father and ignoring my responsibilities; or will I be active and involved, as Jesus did the work of his Father? Isn’t this what Jesus modeled for us? Not to just live a good life that is marked by faith, prayer, and compassion, but to work as Jesus worked?

Action Steps:

• My new friend and fellow soldier in Christ, Kaleo Del Sol, opened my eyes to the “family business” viewpoint of God’s kingdom. I’ll be forever grateful for this, as it has opened up a fresh zeal in me to live in a manner worthy of the Lord.


• I need to lead my family (first and foremost) in being active as heirs of this inheritance. Are we a family that is worthy of the Lord? Are we pouring out heart-transforming good works, and increasing in the knowledge of God?


• I feel led to look at the mind map of my life and gauge which areas of my life are being lived in light of my inheritance. Any areas that are dead or lacking need to be enlivened.


• I need to communicate this to my church and my ministries I have been entrusted to oversee. After that, we need to discuss how we’re going to live in light of this, and what changes need to be made.