The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 2:1-5,
"I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is."
Paul spoke of his goal with those he wrote to. "My goal is..." He makes clear that all he did was centered on Jesus Christ. It was his concern that believers were encouraged in heart and united in love. For what purpose? That these believers have successful marriages, good careers, raise wonderful children and have two cars in the garage? Not at all. Paul's efforts were centered squarely on the purposes of Jesus Christ. Paul's concerns were that God's people be encouraged and united so they may have the "full riches of complete understanding", that they might know the mystery of God, Jesus Christ. It is in Jesus Christ that "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge reside." 2:3.
Earlier in 1:27 Paul says God had elected to make known among the Gentiles a glorious mystery: "which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." It was for this purpose, he says in 1:25, that he became the servant of the church. He says his commission from God was to present the word of God in it's fullness. Faithful to his commission, he says, "I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me." 1:29.
There are a lot of religions in the world. The universal precept among them are that we, as humans, are flawed. Based on the flavor of the religion, there are a variety of ways to deal with the flaws. Buddhists have one way, Hindus another. Scientology has one way, Mormons another. Even within Christianity there are a variety of approaches to "Christian" religion. These are not the things that captured Paul's interest. For Paul, there was one single and clear focus for hot pursuit: Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came into this life to save sinners for a kingdom he is building in the next and Paul focused all his efforts squarely on that pursuit. All about Jesus Christ. All about Jesus Christ's agenda, all about Jesus Christ's purposes, all about Jesus Christ's interests. Jesus Christ is the objective for Paul, Jesus Christ is the focus, Jesus Christ is the end-game plan, Jesus Christ is who to pursue, Jesus Christ is who to strive for.
I don't see anything about the "American Dream" here, I don't see anything about immigration reform here, I don't see anything about "social justice" here, I don't see anything about the "green economy" here, I don't see anything about global warming here or trade balances with other nations or an Arab Spring or saving Jewish settlements or... All I see in Paul is his unfettered and focused pursuit of Jesus Christ. I don't see anything about doctrinal "distinctions" amongst the denominations here. I don't see anything about vestments, liturgies, arguments over how to "do it right" whether its communion, baptism, the order of service or who gets to participate on the "worship team" here. What I do see is an uncluttered singular pursuit of Jesus Christ and his agenda.
In this letter, Paul tells us what his perspective is on Jesus Christ, "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." 1:15-20.
"I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is."
Paul spoke of his goal with those he wrote to. "My goal is..." He makes clear that all he did was centered on Jesus Christ. It was his concern that believers were encouraged in heart and united in love. For what purpose? That these believers have successful marriages, good careers, raise wonderful children and have two cars in the garage? Not at all. Paul's efforts were centered squarely on the purposes of Jesus Christ. Paul's concerns were that God's people be encouraged and united so they may have the "full riches of complete understanding", that they might know the mystery of God, Jesus Christ. It is in Jesus Christ that "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge reside." 2:3.
Earlier in 1:27 Paul says God had elected to make known among the Gentiles a glorious mystery: "which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." It was for this purpose, he says in 1:25, that he became the servant of the church. He says his commission from God was to present the word of God in it's fullness. Faithful to his commission, he says, "I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me." 1:29.
There are a lot of religions in the world. The universal precept among them are that we, as humans, are flawed. Based on the flavor of the religion, there are a variety of ways to deal with the flaws. Buddhists have one way, Hindus another. Scientology has one way, Mormons another. Even within Christianity there are a variety of approaches to "Christian" religion. These are not the things that captured Paul's interest. For Paul, there was one single and clear focus for hot pursuit: Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came into this life to save sinners for a kingdom he is building in the next and Paul focused all his efforts squarely on that pursuit. All about Jesus Christ. All about Jesus Christ's agenda, all about Jesus Christ's purposes, all about Jesus Christ's interests. Jesus Christ is the objective for Paul, Jesus Christ is the focus, Jesus Christ is the end-game plan, Jesus Christ is who to pursue, Jesus Christ is who to strive for.
I don't see anything about the "American Dream" here, I don't see anything about immigration reform here, I don't see anything about "social justice" here, I don't see anything about the "green economy" here, I don't see anything about global warming here or trade balances with other nations or an Arab Spring or saving Jewish settlements or... All I see in Paul is his unfettered and focused pursuit of Jesus Christ. I don't see anything about doctrinal "distinctions" amongst the denominations here. I don't see anything about vestments, liturgies, arguments over how to "do it right" whether its communion, baptism, the order of service or who gets to participate on the "worship team" here. What I do see is an uncluttered singular pursuit of Jesus Christ and his agenda.
In this letter, Paul tells us what his perspective is on Jesus Christ, "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." 1:15-20.
If that doesn't take your breath away, you're not breathing!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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