30DaysOfBibleLettering - Round 4 ಮಾದರಿ

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;
Colossians 1:10 ESV

Exhausted. Weary. Discouraged. These were a few of the words shared by a friend of mine as he described his situation to me. I knew he loved God deeply. He had become a Christian two years before, and he was captivated by the call of Jesus and discipleship. He would serve endlessly, always available to anyone who asked. He soon found himself in a leadership position working for the church. He sincerely desired to live a life "worthy of the Lord." Within a year, though, he was burned out and wrestling with feelings of bitterness.

After receiving some counsel, he decided to step down from leadership to focus on his relationship with God. He dug deeper into The Word and spent hours pouring out his heart in prayer. During this season of reflection, something happened. Like a rushing waterfall, the message of God’s lavish grace poured into his weary soul. He realized he had been trying to earn God’s love, mustering his own strength to live a life worthy of God. Over the next few months, the message of God’s grace transformed his heart. He would later say that it was like ‘coming to faith’ a second time. He now understood that God’s love could never be earned, but was a free gift of grace. He discovered his identity as a dearly beloved child of God.

The verse in this artwork is part of Paul’s prayer for the Colossians. In order to live out this prayer, we must look to God’s infinite worth for our help and satisfaction. It’s only through Him and by faith in Him that we can ever hope to "walk worthy of God." This is what my friend realized during that season of burnout. It wasn’t about earning God’s approval. It was about walking in a way that shows how worthy, able, and strong the Lord is. 

Fast forward a few years later. My friend just moved back to his homeland to share the gospel---a country often in the news because of its Christian persecution and terrorist bombings. And yet he returns with faith and joy in his heart. He believes the best is yet to come. His desire to live a life worthy of God is no longer something that dries him out spiritually. Quite the opposite, it’s now a great source of fruit in his life. His motivation is now rooted in the life-giving soil of God’s grace---and that changes everything.

by @Godsfingerprints