Christ In You
Col 1: 24-29
We have just started a new series by Philip Yancy called Vanishing Grace where we were looking at why people don't want to accept Christ.
One lady actually said,“Oh I am on my way to hell.” What a terrible statement to be making.
Maybe it's because churches have concentrated on the things you can't do and the things we are against rather than pointing to the Jesus who loves all people.
We are in a society now that has so many choices, other religions, cults and philosophies but they all focus on you some how following rules and regulations.
But none of them are based on a person at the centre, which is Jesus, and none give any definite promise that your sins are forgiven and the promise of everlasting life.
In Verse 27 it refers to Christ living in you and in the daily reading notes it used an example how when a person moves into a new house they make it how they want it.
When we invite Jesus into our lives it is the start of a process where He makes us more and more like Him.
I really have met some serious villains over the years and some of them are blacker than black they then receive Jesus and are whiter than white.
But perhaps that is how it has to be for them because that is not normal and why books and films are made about it.
As we reach out to those around us we must not be surprised if there are struggles as people transition in their lives, but we are all struggling.None of us are perfect.
In my Bible it has a heading,‘Paul’s labour for the church’ and he is reminding people of the price Jesus paid for him upon the cross.
As we head towards Easter we need to remember there could be no resurrection without the cross and we are called to pick up our cross and follow Him.
This tells me that it is not going to be an easy ride we will have challenges and disappointments but because Christ lives in us we will overcome.
Paul speaks about the thorn in his flesh to stop him getting proud, we need at all times to remember it is not us doing things but Christ who lives in us.
Paul talks in terms of being a servant to the body of Christ, which is the church, that's the people not the building.
I remember many years ago a speaker talking about jobs in the church and he said we speak the jobs up and then, like the world, look for the best candidate.
Recently the Anglican Church said you can't be a clergyman if you don't have a degree, and the same has been said about prison chaplaincy. Other Christian workers with the chaplaincy must have at least a diploma.
Yet some of the best ministers I know don't have a degree, but Christ is in them empowering them in the same way He did the disciples.
I have gone off track a bit because what the speaker said was this, ‘How many applications would there be for the job of servant?’
Would we be applying? I don't think so.
Yet on Good Friday we often sing about Jesus the servant King who tells us we are not like the world looking for position but rather serving one another.
At the Bible study when we were discussing how we change perceptions people have about the church one person said it is about serving people.
Someone else drew attention to the Good Samaritan, one who served his fellow man, even though they were effectively enemies.
As we head towards Easter maybe part of our reflection should be on Jesus the servant King and how we as His disciples should be following Him.
No other religion claims that its leader has risen from the grave and to worship one who is alive and active in the world is a mystery.
Verse 28 tells us to teach people with wisdom because sadly that has not always been the case, we don't compromise on the word of God but it's the teaching of it that maybe has to change.
We can't do this on our own we need one another so that when one is struggling the rest of us can draw near.
But ultimately we do it in the strength of Christ as we seek to follow in His footsteps and go where He leads us.
It's Christ's desire that everyone will be saved but people do have a choice and sadly some will reject Him.
We must though seek to spread the Good News by word and deed and encourage one another in our walk so that we may present everyone who comes to Him as perfect in Christ.
The thing that underpins all of this is love, if Jesus loves all people then we also love all people and as we have said many times the return of Jesus can be at any time.
We have just a couple of weeks now till Easter let's use it to reflect on the servant King living in us making us more and more like Him.