So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. (Col 1:10 NIV)

Just go to high places of government or into the houses of important people and you will notice something with the officials and servants. They behave in a manner appropriate to their high calling and office. The bigger and more important a boss or lord, the more dignified the employee or servant appears. However the opposite holds true if the boss or lord is bad, coarse and common, then those in his service will be likewise if not worse. Without any doubt our Lord Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords, therefore his great, friendly and gracious bearing should be reflected in us his servants. We  ought to be holy and dignified, patient and loving, patient and full of goodwill and mercy. We should be diligent in meeting his expectations in all things. This is verbalized most aptly in the apostolic wording: “live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way”. The apostle knew what the Colossians were missing and it fits our lack perfectly too so that we “may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” That’s what we want too, is it not? Don’t believe that somebody is sanctified if he is not bearing fruit in good works. A good tree is recognized by its fruits.

Dear heavenly Father! Grant us enlightened vision to recognize the glory of your kingdom and that our inward being would become fortified by your Holy Spirit. Guide our mind and thoughts away from the vain and sinful things of this world and concentrate them on your holy Word and on those things that remain eternally. Enable us to all good works and give to us, what is pleasing in your sight. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.   (H. Greiner)

1 O Holy Spirit, grant us grace That we our Lord and Savior In faith and fervent love embrace And truly serve Him ever, The hour of death cannot bring loss When we are sheltered by the cross That cancelled our transgressions.

2 Help us that we Thy saving Word In faithful hearts may treasure; Let e’er that Bread of Life afford New grace in richest measure. O make us die to ev’ry sin, Each day create new life within, That fruits of faith may flourish.

3 And when our earthly race is run, Death’s bitter hour impending, Then may Thy work in us begun Continue till life’s ending, Until we gladly may commend Our souls into our Savior’s hand The crown of life obtaining. (Bartholomäus Ringwaldt, 1532-1599 tr Oluf H. Smeby 1851-1929)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Tuesday after the twenty-fourth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 385 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.