Lost in Translation

This week's discipleship lessons deal with the daily aspect of our salvation. We've been saved from the penalty of sin, we're being saved from the power of sin, and some day we'll be saved from the very presence of sin. But what does that daily outworking of salvation look like? To use another word that is often misused, what does a "successful" Christian look like on Monday afternoon at 3 p.m.?

I've been very challenged and encouraged by Colossians 1:9-14, which I believe answers this question, at least in outline form.

1) The successful Christian is permeated with a desire to know and follow God's will.
2) The successful Christian is growing in wisdom and spiritual understanding (read "understanding directed by the Spirit") and personal knowledge of the Lord Himself.
3) The successful Christian focuses on his or her walk with the Lord. Every aspect of his or her life is scrutinized in light of the Word.
4) The successful Christian bears fruit (and prays about bearing fruit too . . . how often do we neglect to ask God for fruit?).
5) Although the successful Christian feels discouraged or tired, he or she drinks from the unlimited fountain of God's power, displaying God-forged patience and longsuffering.
6) The successful Christian gives thanks in every circumstance . . . how could we not? The kingdom of darkness is a thing of our past . . . we are part of the kingdom of His Son . . . we have forgiveness of sins!

May God help us to be successful in the Colossians 1 sense!