Colossians – Christ in us!
Sometimes we look at life and complicate it with our own opinions and assumptions. We look for trouble before trouble comes and worry over what could happen. We become obsessed over what others do and wonder why they do the things they do. We pull ourselves down pondering over what others think of us and how we live. Yes, we spend useless, wasted time on stuff that never happens. All this human thinking stunts our spiritual growth and unravels us.
Jesus came to free us from this kind of thinking. Paul reminds us over and over in his letters how Jesus Christ brings all the loose threads and weaves all who believe into a tapestry of love, “in touch with everything there is to know of God.” Our minds think higher thoughts when we think of Christ first and focus solely on Him. We are more confident in life, not in what we can do but what Christ has already done in and for us. Life’s greatest mystery, is Christ in us.
Paul reminds us, “Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now LIVE him.” Oh, that we might take a moment this morning to pause and give praise for the One and Only, Jesus Christ who saved us so that all the loose ends (us) are woven back into a tapestry God’s love He is creating in all of us. Live for Christ knowing Christ is in us! “And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.” Yes and Amen!
Colossians 2, The Message
I want you to realize that I continue to work as hard as I know how for you, and also for the Christians over at Laodicea. Not many of you have met me face-to-face, but that doesn’t make any difference. Know that I’m on your side, right alongside you. You’re not in this alone.
2-4 I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God’s great mystery. All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else. And we’ve been shown the mystery! I’m telling you this because I don’t want anyone leading you off on some wild-goose chase, after other so-called mysteries, or “the Secret.”5 I’m a long way off, true, and you may never lay eyes on me, but believe me, I’m on your side, right beside you. I am delighted to hear of the careful and orderly ways you conduct your affairs, and impressed with the solid substance of your faith in Christ.
From the Shadows to the Substance
6-7 My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.
What do we learn?–You know Jesus. Now live Jesus.
–Our goal is to think like Jesus so we will live more and more like Jesus.
–School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it!
–Focus on Christ. Developing the mind of Christ brings peace and confidence because of Christ in us.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Our minds wander and you bring us back into your peace. You take all the loose ends of life and weave them back into Your love, grace, mercy and beauty. Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. Continue to transform my thinking and living. Transform your church. Transform the world.
In Jesus Name, Amen
