JESUS - NUMBER ONE
Colossians 1:18 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. (NIV)
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Jesus is Number One! Already in this chapter, Paul has described Jesus Christ as the 'image of the invisible God' (v15), 'Firstborn over all creation' (v15), 'Creator of everything' (v16): now Christ is presented as 'Head of the church' (v18), 'Firstborn from the dead' (v18); and later the 'Fullness of God' (v19) and the 'Reconciler of all things' (v20). There is no doubt that Jesus takes the highest place in every way.
The church is 'the called-out people': called by God, out of the kingdom of darkness, into the light with Jesus. This group of people is not a democracy; every single member of the church is under the authority of Christ, and can only function when connected with the head (using the analogy of the human body - Ephesians 4:15-16). He alone has the right to say what is right, and how His purposes are to be carried out - now and for ever, because just as Christ was the first to be raised from the dead, so all His people will also be raised to life, fore ver.
Every human grouping naturally has a 'pecking order' of authority and power. But Jesus had said such a style must not characterise the church: "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you." (Matthew 20:25-26a). It should be obvious to us (but often is not!) that if Christ is Number One, then nobody else can be. In religion, Jesus cannot be one of a number of prophets or inferior to another Deity. In the world, whatever the authorities think, Christ is higher than them all. And personally we can never be superior to Him in any way. The greatest wisdom the world can find is to recognise Jesus as supreme. The greatest wisdom the church can show is to submit to its Head and not to seek its own glory. And at a personal level, at work and in the community, we need to let Jesus take the prime place in our lives. Then the world will see that He is Number One because we have stepped down from that position to love and serve Him. That is the Christian's daily challenge and struggle against the demands of self. Take up the challenge again today!
Prayer: Sovereign Lord. Thank You that Jesus has been appointed as head over creation, the church and the grave. I know that nobody else has the right to be Number One in the world, the church and in my life. Please forgive me when I choose to ignore that fact, or when I allow other voices to drown out Your Word. Help me to honour Jesus as I accept His right to rule at home and at work. May my life demonstrate that I believe He really is Number One. In His Name. Amen.
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WHO IS JESUS?
Colossians 1:15-17 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (NIV)
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Faith in Christ, is just that: not faith in the church, or leaders or our own ability to follow religious rules - but trusting in the person of Jesus Christ. Of course, nobody can believe in Him unless they know who He is. Therefore it is critically important to know His identity, character, and authority. Today's verses explain all three.
Firstly, Jesus Christ lived on earth as the visible manifestation of God. He was, and is, God. Jesus said, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." (John 14:9). John 1:18 says, "No-one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known." Hebrews 1:3 says, "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." These are very big statements because they also deny many popular ideas people have about Him. So, Jesus was not just a man - but God in a human body.
Secondly, Jesus is the 'firstborn over all creation'. 'Firstborn' has two meanings: 'the first to be born', and 'the one who has superiority with full legal rights to deputise for his father and to inherit the estate'. Of those two meanings, the second only is intended, because before Christ's incarnation, He was already the creator of everything, so His Spirit was not created. Although He became a man, He had (and still has) the right of supremacy over the physical creation, angels and demons, and every authority structure. He personally sustains the complexity of the cosmos, and has intimate knowledge of every person and event, even ahead of time. So when Jesus spoke to demons they knew His authority and submitted: so did stormy sea, blind eyes, and loaves of bread. By His authority water turned into wine and the dead were raised to life. People who believe in Jesus are also changed; they become children of God.
When we say we believe in Jesus, we are admitting that we are sinners and that Jesus is our Saviour. Although Christ is over all creation, He personally submitted Himself to death, accepting responsibility for all our rebellion, so that we might be made clean for the presence of God. This Jesus was raised to life again and He now has the final word about everything. He is the supreme ruler over everything (Philippians 2:8-11). Is that the Jesus you believe in and worship? The Bible says that only faith in Jesus brings salvation and peace with God (Acts 4:12). If you are not trusting Him ... start today (www.crosscheck.org.uk). If you are trusting, don't keep Jesus a secret! He is wonderful: advertise Him to your friends and colleagues!
Prayer: Father God. Thank You for Jesus. What a wonderfully amazing person He is: so big in every way, but so humble and kind in being willing to be sacrificed for all my sins. I am sorry when I do not honour Him as I should; when I do not live to please Him; when I am ashamed of Him and when I ignore Him. Please help me to appreciate the awesome greatness of my Saviour, to be grateful for what He has done for me, and learn to live so that He will be pleased and glorified. In His Name. Amen.
CHOOSE TO GIVE THANKS
Colossians 1:13-14 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Wise parents teach their children to say, and mean, three important words. 'Please', 'sorry' and 'thank you'. Yet all of them are against our human nature. We would rather demand our rights than wait for somebody to be pleased to give; we resist admitting our failure; and feel that gratitude makes us indebted to others. In the previous verse, Paul the Apostle encouraged the Colossian church to live maturely, "... joyfully giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light" (Colossians 1:12).
Paul gives two major reasons which Christians should be thankful. Firstly, God has rescued us from Satan's captivity, paying for our redemption with the blood of Christ. Secondly, we have been fully welcomed into Christ's kingdom, because our sin (which barred us from coming close to Him) has been forgiven through the sacrifice of Christ. Grateful? If you are not, there is something seriously wrong! Without God's grace, we can only live in spiritual darkness, fumbling our way through life with fear of hell and no hope of heaven. Gratitude says a lot about people. It says that they are not proud, but willing to accept help; it say that they are not ashamed of being dependent; it says that they acknowledge they remain in the debt of others, which they can never repay except by saying 'thank you'.
Musicians practise on their instruments; lawyers practise their learned profession; carpenters practise their woodworking skills. Christians practise their faith first by giving thanks to God, and then demonstrate their thankful hearts by behaving in a way which pleases the Lord. If lips refuse to sacrifice pride and give thanks (praise is always sacrifice of self-interest ... Hebrews 13:15), the rest of the body is unlikely to behave with spiritual maturity. If we do not remember the magnitude of our rescue, and give thanks to the Lord, we will tend to go back to old ways and be trapped in dark ways again. If we do not remember what it cost Christ to forgive us, we will treat sin lightly. And if we do not value the privilege of being in His kingdom we will inevitably undermine it. The remedy is to give thanks with joy. Start now and practice several times a day until it becomes the habit of a lifetime!
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You for all you have done for me; for the sacrifice of Christ to redeem me from the dark captivity of Satan, and for Your forgiveness enabling me to be welcomed into Your kingdom. I admit that I am slow to say 'Thank You', and I repent of my self sufficiency and lack of dependence on Your grace. Please forgive me these sins too. Help me to cultivate the habit of gratitude by choosing to thank You for my salvation and each kind provision with which you bless my life, and the lives of those I love. May my use of 'please', 'sorry' and 'thank you' be frequent indicators of my dependence upon You, and help me to live so that You receive glory. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
QUALIFIED FOR HEAVEN
Colossians 1:10-12 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Qualifications are important. Usually they mean that you have studied well, trained hard and are competent to do the job. And some think that we qualify ourselves for heaven by learning what to do, doing it well and proving our suitability for God's presence. But that is not so. Although Paul does not minimise the importance of pleasing the Lord, even our best efforts cannot qualify us for heaven: because that is a gift of God's grace (Ephesians 2:8-9, Colossians 1:13-14).
However, Paul was concerned for the Colossian church to become mature in seven ways, and so he prayed for them. Firstly, to live with Christ-like integrity; secondly, to be spiritually productive; thirdly, to understand God better; fourthly, to become strong through his power; fifthly, to resist the temptation to give up, persisting through opposition; sixthly, develop the habit of joyful thanksgiving to God; and seventhly, to honour the Father whose grace alone has qualified them to take their place with all the people of God.
Although they are described in a list, and we may well attend to one at a time; they all need to be integrated into our lives and practised together. Such a lifestyle demonstrates that we honour the qualifying grace of God, understanding the wisdom of God (the way to live well in God's kingdom). Are you spiritually mature? You can use this list to check how well you are growing as a Christian, and identify those areas which need attention. Pray about them, and ask God to give you a desire to know His will in that area, and to do it. It will be a cooperative process: God will let you know what He wants and He will help you to want it too. Then He will help you to do it in a way that pleases Him. True disciples will accept God's wisdom, and then trust Him to help them as they put it into practice. So take the challenge today, identify the 'discipleship gaps' and take action ... it often helps to share it with another believer who can pray for you and monitor your progress.
Prayer: Gracious God, my loving heavenly Father. Thank You for Your salvation plan which has qualified me to be a part of Your Kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your work in me, helping me to desire Your wisdom and to do it. Forgive me when I stubbornly insist on my own way and fail to please You; forgive me when I do not even care that my stunted growth makes you sad and decreases my usefulness in Your kingdom. Please help me to make a realistic assessment of my spiritual maturity, and long to grow more like Christ. In His Name. Amen.
LEARNING TO GROW IN THE GOSPEL
Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. (NIV)
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
The birth of a baby is just the beginning of the process of growth to maturity. The infant has a wonderful new body and mind but does not know how to use or control it. In the same way, new Christians have all the potential of the life of God but are vulnerable until they have learned how to live as a mature adult.
Paul the Apostle knew all the dangers new believers would face. To be born again is wonderful, but to become mature takes time, training, correction and lots of encouragement. How was it going to happen, and who would help? Paul was so far away, under house arrest and unable to travel to this new church. So He did two things: first he prayed for them, and secondly he sent a letter (the Epistle to the Colossians), personally couriered by Tychicus who was accompanied by Onesemus (Colossians 4:7-9). At the same time, Paul ensured that the other two churches in the Lycos valley (in Laodicea and Hierapolis) facing the same issues, should also have the letter read there (Colossians 4:13-16).
So prayer, Godly instruction, organisation and logistics all came together to help the churches resist wrong teaching and learn how to grow mature in Christ. The message alone was not enough ... it had to be delivered by people who could be trusted. Of course, the background to all this communication was prayer. Paul trusted that God alone would guard them until the letter came and He was growing them in faith - so he prayed that the Holy Spirit's wise counsel would operate in the churches, and that they would allow Him to fill them with truth and discernment. However, prayer was only part of his responsibility. Paul also knew that he had a part to play: he was under God's authority to write a letter, and that letter was all part of God's work in their lives (and ours too!).
Self-centred Christians are a menace in the church. They do not seem to understand that in addition to receiving from others, they must also give in accordance with God's will. It all starts with prayer. Action without prayer is as bad as prayer without being willing to act. Yes, grace is all of God, but He chooses that His people are work colleagues in the gospel. Although they may know that principle, they remain inert. They have never really understood that they are designed to have a mature role in Christ's kingdom: instead they want to remain like spoon-fed infants. What a scandal! We cannot escape the Scripture that it is our responsibility to work with God so that the whole body of Christ grows up and functions maturely (Ephesians 4:15-16). So, who will you speak to about Jesus today, who will you write to, who might receive a forwards copy of this Word@Work? Pray about it, make the necessary decisions and do it; for His glory and the blessing of the church.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You that You are the greatest communicator, and reveal all that we need to know. Thank You also for those people You have used to teach, train, rebuke and correct me - so that I might grow up in my faith and become more useful to You. I am sorry when I have not helped others as I might. Please help me to see my responsibility to pray for people and then to communicate truth to them as guided by You. Convict me of the need to make decisions about this and to organise myself so that I can be truly useful to You in helping others. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
LIVING GOSPEL GROWTH
Colossians 1:6b-8 All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. (NIV)
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
All biologists know that growth is one of the properties of living organisms. It usually occurs by cell division and multiplication, so that new cells are formed, the body increases in size and learns how to function effectively. The template for this behaviour is in the DNA which provides all the messages to tell the new cells how to function.
The gospel of God's grace is not sterile information but is vibrantly alive. It contains the message of salvation which, when grafted into the heart of those who believe it, will reproduce the eternal life of God in a human being. Wherever the gospel is explained, those who are hungry for truth will understand it. Wherever the seed of God's Word finds receptive soil it will germinate, grow and be fruitful. That is what happened at Colosse. Epaphras, who had been converted under Paul's ministry in Ephesus, took the message almost 200km east along the trade route, and preached the good news about Jesus there. Those who believed were born again by the Holy Spirit. They became the church (ecclesia - the 'called-out ones') and started living differently, because they had received the life of Christ.
In the same way that parents are excited at the wonder of a new life forming during pregnancy, so the Apostle Paul was excited to see how the gospel had produced the same life-changing effect in Colosse as it did wherever it had been preached. He commended Epaphras, calling him a 'faithful minister of Christ'. All he did was to deliver the message accurately; but its effect was profound, because it contained God's living Word. And the effect of the Holy Spirit's presence in these people was unmistakable!
Evangelism is not complicated. It is the simple task of delivering the truth about Jesus. In Paul's day the gospel travelled as people moved along trade routes; today it is transported wherever Christians go, and increasingly along the internet and email like Word@Work. Although some people are 'full time' evangelists, every Christian carries the vital seed of gospel truth. But most believers do not realise the potency of the truth in their hearts and minds. If you know what it is to be saved through the cross of Jesus, are you telling other people? If not, make up your mind that you will ask your friends and colleagues if you can tell them. If you need a little help, click on www.crosscheck.org.uk and watch the presentation together with them. Then see what God does as they start to engage with the truth!
Prayer: My Lord and my Saviour. Thank You for saving me through the sufferings of Jesus on the cross. And I am grateful for the people who first told me and explained how I could become a child of God. Forgive me for the indifference, laziness or fear which has stopped me from telling others. Forgive me for listening to Satan's lies, telling me that other people can do it better or that I am too weak a believer to be a credible witness. Thank You that Your life is in the message, and its potency does not depend upon me. So help me to resolve to take the opportunities You provide to tell the gospel to my friends and colleagues. In Jesus' Name. Amen.