Christ is all—Day 26 of the Men’s Swagger Challenge

Joe Wittwer | June 15, 2012

Scripture: 1 Kings 16, 2 Chronicles 15-16, Colossians 1

Colossians 1:18–20 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. 19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

Colossians 1:28-29 So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. 29 That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.

 

Observation/application

            In his letter to the Colossian Christians, Paul paints an exalted portrait of Jesus.  He is the head; He is supreme; He is first in everything.  And through Him, God reconciled everything to Himself. 

            Think your greatest thoughts about Jesus; He is greater still.  And Jesus’ work on the cross accomplished so much more than we imagine—He reconciled everything to God.  Without meaning to, we regularly reduce Jesus and His sacrifice to something much less than this.  Paul corrects our small thinking about Jesus and the meaning of His death and resurrection.

            Because of this (the supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus), Paul makes it clear that his work and message are all about Jesus.  “We tell others about Christ.”  Our message is Jesus.  The gospel is the good news about Him.  We are Jesus-people with a Jesus-message.  It’s that simple.  We are always pointing people to Jesus, helping them know and follow Jesus.  Jesus is the issue.

 

Prayer: Lord, keep reminding me of how great Jesus is!  And let that exalted vision of Jesus animate my life and work.  Help me to tell others about Christ and present them to God perfect in their relationship with Christ.