Unrivalled: Christ the Ultimate InfluencerSýnishorn

Day 5: Captivated by Christ

Scroll through your Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter feeds, your most visited websites, or most used applications on your phone. What are you filling your time and mind with? Is it envying the ‘perfect’ lives of social media influencers, picking the next cryptocurrency to go “to the moon,” or training and dieting to get that elusive six-pack? We live in a world where knowledge is easily accessible, and we find ourselves constantly pulled in all directions to live life perfectly.

Certain false teachings had influenced the Colossian church to deviate from the centrality of Christ and instead participate in other ‘mystery religions’ that claimed to have special knowledge. Paul urged the church not to be deceived by “fine-sounding arguments” and turn away from Christ. For God had already entrusted and revealed to them the most sacred and important knowledge, the “mystery of God, Christ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (v27). The knowledge of Christ was the most powerful and important foundation they could build their lives upon. It was worth laying down his life to Paul so that everyone could fully know Christ regardless of education, status, and gender.

We face the same influences in our lives as the Colossian church, only disguised in different forms. We fuel our desire for knowledge to get ahead of the curve to earn more money, elevate our social status, gain popularity, or be liked by our peers. Instead of having Christ as the foundation, we may try to fit Christ into a worldly worldview and try to live our lives by putting a foot in both worlds. Whatever it may be, this ' knowledge’ will eventually crowd out the place of Christ in our lives and become the yardstick we use to measure if we have lived the ‘perfect’ life.

Perfection can only be found in God, and the only thing that should captivate us is Christ. As we live in the world, Christ should be our anchor for truth against all other ‘knowledge’ that comes from the world. What ambitions do you have that are not of God but captivate your thoughts? What worldly influences distract you from knowing God and being fully captivated by Him? Let us value knowing Christ and be captivated by Him above anything else.

Prayer Points

• Pray that Jesus will always be the greatest love in our lives. Let us ask the Lord to purify our hearts from things stealing our love for Him. May we always have a pure heart filled with genuine love for the Lord!
• Pray that we will not be distracted or deceived by “fine-sounding arguments” no matter how popular they are in the world. Let us ask the Lord to help us value His truths greatly in our lives. We want to be always captivated by the Lord and His truths.