READ: Colossians
1:15-29
In this passage, Paul establishes the credibility of Jesus as God. Paul
says, “He is the image of the invisible
God.” For those who were Gentile believers, this likely spoke volumes to
them. History is full of account after account of men and complete nations
running after all kinds of gods in an effort to find the true, yet invisible
God. For those who were of Jewish heritage and already served the invisible
God, this was a confirmation of Jesus’ identity. With Jesus established as God,
as the Creator who existed before time, Paul has laid the basis for why Christ
is the head of the Church. It’s not Epaphras, or himself, or any other leader.
The Head of the Church is Christ.
In the next few verses Paul speaks straight-forwardly about the issue of
salvation. He explains how much Christ has done to present each one to God as
holy and blameless. However, he adds the word ‘if’. That standard of holiness
and blamelessness will only count though if they remain steadfast. According to
Paul’s letter, they must be steadfast and hold on until the end. He says they
must be stable, not shifting from the hope they have. It is clear from Paul’s
teaching he believes Christians can put themselves in a place to lose the
privilege of being presented holy and blameless. He uses this as a challenge to
the Christians at Colossae to stay connected to Jesus all the time.
Verses 25-29 brim with intense application and teaching. Paul rejoices
in his suffering. He doesn’t survive, or tolerate them – he rejoices! This is
unnatural. Paul understands that suffering is part of the cost of following
Christ. Christ on the earth suffered brutally in His physical body. Paul seems
to believe being persecuted for being a Christian is the best way he can
identify with Christ. It is almost as if the suffering for his faith is the
mark to prove he is indeed sharing in Christ. Christ’s Body (the Church) will
continue to suffer as He suffered on the earth until she is reunited with
Christ.
One other thing Paul slips into that last verse is something many of us
need to realize. He says, “…I toil, struggling with all His energy…” So
many times we toil (work hard) in our own energy, not realizing there is no
benefit at all. We need instead to rely on God’s strength. The other thing
often overlooked is that even with His energy there is still
struggling. Just because we are following the way of Christ, and relying on
Him, doesn’t mean it will be easy. Many of us have fallen into the trap of believing
that with Christ everything will be ‘easy’, instead of ‘possible’, and that we
only struggle when we are on our own and not working in the power of the Holy
Spirit. Those things may be true sometimes, but according to Paul it is also
possible to struggle even with God’s energy to do what He has set before us.
JOURNALING
AND PRAYER
1.
Jesus is the Head of the Church and should be Head
of our lives as we are part of the Church. Reflect on that in your life for a
moment. Then ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you if there is any area in your
life where Jesus is not the Head. If so, confess it as sin. Ask Jesus if there
is something He would like to say to you today as Head of your life.
2.
Are you remaining steadfast and not shifting in
your faith and in your hope for salvation? We all go through different seasons,
and the Lord knows if our hearts are still wholly devoted to Him. Ask Him to
speak to you about your steadfastness or lack of it. Ask Him what you need to
do to grow in this area and to remain steadfast to the end.
3.
Ask the Lord to speak to you with words, thoughts
or pictures about your attitude toward suffering or struggling to do what He
wants you to do. Is there a sin, habit, or anything else God is not pleased
with? Do you give up on struggles – even if it is in the Lord’s strength – too
easily because you’ve believed the lie that doing things in God’s strength will
be easy? Ask God to speak to you about this. Thank Him for the energy He offers
us.
