Colossians: Alive In Christ Uddrag

What’s your life about today? What’s your mind focused on at the moment? What are you passionate about? In these verses, the apostle Paul opens up his heart to us and shows us what his life is about. We’ve already seen from 1:24–29 that his focus in ministry has been Jesus Christ, which has meant suffering (v. 24) and hard work (v. 29). Now, he speaks more about his great ‘struggle’ in ministry. We learn from Paul here about how to use our lives well. 

We see that all his effort has gone into pushing the churches in Colossae and Laodicea towards a deeper knowledge of Christ (2:1). This is because he trusts that true understanding, knowledge and wisdom are all centred on Jesus Christ (vv. 2–3; see also 1:15–20). He longs for the churches to have a ‘full’ understanding and knowledge of Christ. This is what drives his ministry and his letter-writing to the Colossians in the first place. At the centre of Paul’s passion is Christ.  

We must, therefore, beware of anything that might diminish or de-prioritise Christ in our lives. Paul himself warns about the ‘plausible arguments’ from some (v. 4, ESV) that might impact the believers’ Christ-centredness. Heeding this warning, we must, accordingly, struggle to keep our lives focused on Christ. We need to remind ourselves that a life centred on anything else is wasted and foolish, and not let ourselves be distracted or pulled away by the ‘plausible arguments’ of others. Let’s aspire towards the firmness of faith in Christ mentioned in verse 5. Surely, we want this to be a description of our spiritual state, and our church as well? Let your life today be shaped by this passion.  

Reflection

1. Have you been drawn away from Christ by anything, or are you using your energy on Christ - both for yourself and others?

2. Can you think of any 'plausible arguments' used, inside or outside the church, that might draw us away from Christ?