Colossians 1:1-14 - Stay Focused

        If you are anything like me, you have a bit of a rebellious streak.  I wanted to be in the Air Force when I was a teenager, but honestly, I’m thankful I didn’t go into the armed forces as I don’t think I would have handled the authority system well.  As I get older I'm more and more drawn to shared leadership, congregational churches, and checks and balances on power.  I love the American system as the Founders baked in wise checks on human nature.  Thank God!  And may those checks and balances continue to work well.  

        Our human nature, our rebellious streak, is a problem.  We see the picture in the first chapter of Isaiah of a rebellious Judah - God’s people who refused to acknowledge God.  God said that even a stubborn ox or donkey recognizes its master (Isaiah 1:3).  Yet Judah refused to recognize God.  How about you?  Do you recognize God as your master?  People throw around the word “Lord,” but does it mean anything?  Do we give Jesus the place and honor that is due?  I’m talking to myself here as I need to focus on God for direction and lordship over my life.

        The good news is that God is not silent or uninterested.  To the contrary, the Bible says He is intimately interested in us.  So much so that He loves us and wants a relationship with us.  He wants us to know and understand Him.  God expects us to keep our eyes on Him.  We stay focused on Jesus Christ because He is God.  He is the Master.  Jesus is the One who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins (1:13-14).

        Yes, you and I can make all sorts of plans.  Save for retirement, etc.  But God’s plans and ways govern (Proverbs 16:9).  That’s reality.  So yes, we need endurance and patience.  God will provide that.  And as we rely on God, He will give us strength and joy in every situation.

        Keep looking at and to God.  Petition God this morning.  Start with the Lord’s Prayer and an honest assessment of your situation and your needs.  God knows.  But tell Him anyway.

        Like the church 2,000 years ago in Colossae, off the beaten trail by 120 miles or so, God knows exactly where you are and what you need.  You and I are also off the beaten trail a ways.  Good.  Thank God.  No one wants to live in Toronto, New York, or London anyway!

        There is no righteousness without repentance (Isaiah 1:17).  So if you need to repent of sin do that now.

        Lord Jesus, we repent of our sins, please have mercy on us.  “We have had our fill of contempt.  We have had more than our fill of the scoffing of the proud and the contempt of the arrogant” (Psalm 123:3-4).

        Like the Colossians, you know and have the great secret of life.  That is, Christ Jesus lives in you (Colossians 1:27).  We have the assurance of sharing in eternity and confidence that God’s power is working in us.  It is.

        Be humble today.  Not arrogant.  Then the way we live will honor Jesus.

        The truth about God’s wonderful grace is that the Creator loves us.  He died for us and he has reserved a wonderful future for us in heaven.  That is my hope and faith.

        Heaven will be infinitely more marvelous than we can imagine.  It will not be dull or boring.  Did Ferrari make boring cars?  Well, Jesus is the Supreme Creator.  He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see - thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.  It takes faith to believe this as we can’t see those spirit world things.  But they are as real as the nose on your face.  John got a glimpse of them and wrote that down for us in the book of Revelation - He saw above and behind the stage; there is a lot that goes on back there.

        Maybe you've seen a newborn baby.  Truly amazing, nay, miraculous.  Have you seen a sand dollar?  How did that pretty picture get designed on its back?  A blue blooming crop of flax, yellow canola, or golden barley.  When we were kids one of the local farmers took us up in his little plane and we saw those crops from the sky - gorgeous.  We know feasts as we have them often.  We know celebrations.  We love birthdays Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving.  All good.  Really good.  But nowhere near as good as God's created eternity.

        We know the wonder of new adventures, good hikes to high places, vistas, shorelines, hills, and rushing water in the Rockies.

        We know the smell of pines in the mountains and the deep, restful sleep in the wilderness.

        Our loving Christ Jesus reconciled everything to himself.  He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by His blood on the cross.  Because of that, we can honestly call Jesus our loving Lord God.  Look to Him today, for He holds your incredible future.

        When a person hears and understands the marvelous Good news of what Christ has done for them their life is changed if they accept and believe God.  There is fruit in salvation from that first belief.  It may start small but it grows.  That is just the beginning.  We are growing in Christ.  We learn to know God better and better.  Let’s keep our eyes focused on God today - He will give us just the signal we need and the direction and protection we need for endurance and patience.  

        Lord Jesus, please strengthen and grow your church today and help us to humbly follow you and assist in that great mission.  Amen.

A rainbow in our backyard in Calgary.