Read Colossians 1:10–14
Today’s Scripture: Bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power … and joyfully giving thanks to the Father. Colossians 1:10–12

Wisdom and conduct should always be related to moral character. One of the great problems in our evangelical world today is the emphasis on
spiritual knowledge and Christian service, without connecting these
important matters to personal character.

For example, some teachers and preachers claim to have God’s wisdom—yet they lack love and kindness and the other basic qualities that make the Christian life beautiful and distinctive. Even some “soul-winning Christians” are so busy serving God that they cannot take time to check facts, so they publish lies about other Christians. For some months, I read a certain religious publication. But when I discovered that it had no “Letters to the Editor” column (except for praise) and that it had never published a correction or apologized for an error, I stopped reading the magazine.

Knowledge, conduct, service, and character must always go together. We know God’s will so that we can obey it; and, in obeying it, we serve Him and grow in Christian character. While none of us is perfectly balanced in these four factors, we ought to strive for that balance.

Something to Ponder
If you never told other people you were a Christian, how long do you think it would take them to notice? Why?