There are many mornings when I don’t jump out of bed with a spring in my step ready to face the world. I get my coffee, shuffle to my desk and am a perfect illustration of a rainy day. I open the Bible and I hope something is going to change in me before the day truly begins.
The battle can begin even before I have met anyone. The battle inside me.
I remember Rick Warren’s 4 setbacks that can cause discouragement: Fatigue caused by things taking longer to happen; Frustration caused by things being more complex than you first thought; Failure caused by doubting who I am; Fear caused by what is opposing you. When all the F’s collide then you know it’s going to be a bad day!
That is my testimony this morning. I share it because it might help someone. Here is what I then discovered as I continue to blog through Colossians.
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” (Colossians 2 v 9-10)
The letter to the Colossians is one of helping them stand against heresy. In the verses we will read in the coming days we will see more of these heresies. Though it is difficult to know fully who these heretical infiltrators were what we do know is that they were not trying to pull them away from church. They were not denying the existence of Christ but they were denying the adequacy of Christ. Christians needed more to be saved than what Christ has done and given.
I must remember who Christ is.
The battle in our lives is lost when my eyes are on me.
I must remember who Jesus is. That is where I win the battle.
God is not in Christ. Christ doesn’t just look like God. Christ isn’t God’s agent on earth.
Christ is God. Deity in humanity. In utter completeness. With total authority over anything.
I don’t need to go anyway else than to Christ for anything that I need in life.
I can know that everything I face and whatever causes it comes underneath the authority of Christ.
I must remember who I am.
I have been brought to fullness. The Message says “When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too.”
That’s my position. I am complete in Him! I can relax in that truth instead of being disturbed by feelings.
This is the central truth: I don’t need anything more, I am complete in Christ!
I don’t need to go through a mediator I go straight to Him.
He gives me everything I need. His Word, the opportunity of praying to Him and the desire to be like Him in laying my life down for my friend.
Missions Paul 