For a few days in August we enjoyed the crisp mountain
air and a cabin at 9,200 feet. With a cup
of hot coffee one morning, I took some time to read and reflect on the Bible, specifically the letter to the Colossians. It was as
though every statement about Jesus jumped off the page and grabbed hold of my
heart and mind. Jesus, again, and again,
and again, Jesus…
Colossians 3:4 says “He is your life”
We can easily latch on to one thing we like about Jesus, but
it may only be part of the picture and
easily misapplied.
“Jesus is a great example” is true, but by merely emulating what I
know of him I can miss out on relationship and the life he gives.
Believing “Jesus is a prophet” I can reduce him to pronouncing judgment
on things I don’t like, and “pick and choose” what I’m comfortable with him
saying.
Thinking Jesus is only “a great teacher” I can easily trust more
in what I know (and my ability to know) than I trust Jesus.
I can use “Jesus is my Lord and Savior” as a magical phrase, a get
out of jail free card, somehow concluding I’ve covered the spiritual bases, the
journey is over and I’m just waiting on heaven.
“Jesus is all about love and acceptance” can lead to relativism, where
anything goes just so long as I’m not hurting anybody else.
It helps to keep coming back to what Jesus said about Himself, and
to what God says about him (in places like Colossians).
Recently I was talking to a guy and asked if he had any spiritual belief. He told me about still being a member of a
church in another state (he had not attended in over 30 years). But when I asked him about Jesus something
happened. He started to talk about his
current struggles. I encouraged him
with a related story of how Jesus broke in to someone’s situation to bring hope
and change. Then we got to pray together
and invite Jesus to come and do the same thing in his life. Somehow the detached perspective of Jesus was
overcome in a few moments of talking about who Jesus is, and inviting Jesus to take action. It never gets old...
I’m excited about this next season, because Jesus; again, and again,
and again; keeps grabbing hold of my heart and mind with who he is. Jaw dropping, eyes lifting, hope springing…
Check out these phrases about Jesus from Colossians in The Message. Maybe good material for praying, singing, meditating, sharing...
We look at
Jesus and see the God who cannot be seen.
We look at
Jesus and see God’s original purpose in everything created.
Everything got
started in Jesus and finds its purpose in him.
Jesus was
there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up
to this moment.
Jesus was supreme in the beginning and—leading
the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end.
From beginning to end Jesus is there, towering
far above everything, everyone.
All the broken and dislocated pieces of the
universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit
together in vibrant harmonies, all because of Jesus’ death, his blood that
poured down from the cross.
You don’t
need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of
Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him.
…the
source of life, Christ, who puts us together in one piece, whose very breath
and blood flow through us.
He is
your life.
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