Have you ever returned to a Church that several years ago you used to be a member of?
Do you know the feeling of looking around and not recognising anyone? You want to know where the familiar faces are. Did they die? Have they left and joined another Church? Did they leave Christ?
The Apostle has complimented the Colossians on their firm faith and now, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2: 6-7) He knows they are being tempted away from the truth of Christ that they received to some other satisfaction that is being offered to them by false teachers.
This pandemic is a purifying season. When we fully return to our buildings we will look around and wonder where such a person may be? They left during Covid-19 and they are not coming back. Decisions are being made in this season. Seasoned disciples are walking away from their pulpits and from the pews. Church may well look very different in 2021.
So is there anything we can do? Paul says there is.
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him…”
Paul is saying focus your lives right now on Christ Jesus as Lord. He is Christ, the Messiah, the Chosen One of God. He is Jesus our salvation for that is His name and there is no other name. He is Lord, supreme and therefore has total authority over our lives in all we do. If Christians did this daily then even if they changed churches they would not change their Christ for some other lifestyle choice.
The Apostle then says, “rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
We are to be rooted. We are the planting of the Lord for Him. We can withstand the storms of life. We are dependent on Christ not because we are immature but because we are mature disciples. Discipleship doesn’t lead us to being able to stand on our own in this life. It leads to more dependence on Jesus. We never grow out of a discipleship class.
We are to be built up. We are part of a building programme for Him. Not one of those buildings that doesn’t get built and stands by the side of the road with no development at all. It can be seen. I was lost and now am found etc.
We are to be strengthened in the faith. We are not flaky disciples pushed from one idea to the next. We are confident in the promises of God.
We are to be overflowing with thanks. We are to be looking to Him with praise. This is our responsibility not Christ’s. We choose to be a grateful person. May Christ’s disciples survive the storms of life. May they not leave Him or His Church.
Missions Paul 