Colossians 3: 11 “...Christ is all, and is in all.”
If I were to ask you to rate the priorities in your life, how would you respond?
For many Believers, they would do some variation of: 1. God 2. Spouse 3. Family 4. Work 5. Hobbies/Interests - fishing, golf, reading, cooking, working out etc. and the list could go on or the priorities listed might be listed in different orders.
In Colossians 3, Paul is addressing the Saints in Colossae because many were falling into false teachings that were actually threatening their faith. So, Paul writes this epistle clarifying the false teachings and reminding them of who they were and what they are supposed to be. In Colossians 3, there is a contrast going on in Paul’s explanation where he explains the old person versus the new person in Christ. “You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived….since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in the knowledge in the image of its Creator” (7-9).
After explaining who the Believers used to be and clarifying who they are supposed to be, Paul slips in the phrase, “Christ is all, and is in all.” What does that have to do with the contrast? Again, Paul is correcting the people of Colossae in their thinking.
What was wrong with their thinking? Probably the same thing that we fall into ourselves in this modern era.
I started out by asking you what your priorities are in life?
Why? Because that’s how we think. We take the various aspects of our life and put them into an order of what we value. How do we know this? Simply take your week and divvy up how you spend your time. God might get Sunday, daily devotions, or a small group bible study if your faith is a priority. Of course, the family has to have enough money and resources to live, so I work Monday through Friday from 9-5 or 7-5 or whatever the schedule is. After work, Johnny has baseball practice; Suzy has gymnastics; and we have to cram dinner in there somewhere. My spouse and I tag team the schedule to make it work, but our time is spent talking about the next day’s schedule and how we can do it - not really focusing in on each other's needs. After I’m done with running everyone around, I flip on the tv to catch a little of what’s left of the ballgame or maybe a new series I’m binge watching. When Friday and Saturday comes, if I’m not running one of the kids to a travel ball tournament, we’re off to camp or get the boat out or go catch an action movie for fun. I’m not saying these are bad things - at all- but this might be a normal week for many.
So what’s the point? Paul says that Christ is in “all” as a Believer.
The question is do we actually live this out? Does your faith get priority on Sunday morning? Would people at work know you are a Christian? With kids in sports, does your faith have any role in how you navigate those activities? With your free time, would you say that Christ is included in that or is that “your” time?
We tend to chunk our life up into our priorities - whatever they are - and put them in an order of what we value. But Paul clarified that Christ is in “all” - not on Sunday, not just with my devotions, not just with my small group, but he is supposed to be a part of all the activities and aspects of my daily life.
Many people, unconsciously, categorize life into two categories - the sacred and the secular.
Would Paul agree with this with his teaching?
Absolutely not! To divide the world into these two categories is to say that God has a role over here, but not over there. Paul says Christ is in “all”. God as the creator put all of these aspects of life in motion. So what’s sacred? His entire creation - all aspects.
Now, I do feel the need to clarify something with this paradigm shift that Paul is referencing. He didn’t say go be a Holy Roller and cram your faith in with other people at every opportunity throughout your week. For instance, at work, you may never share your faith beliefs with your co-workers, but would they see someone who works hard, gives their best, and honors their boss? Do you live out your work day as if you are working for the Lord? In the conversations you have, is your speech salted with grace, mercy, and compassion? As you root for your kid in his/her games, do you cheer for the team and your kid in such a way that Christ would be glorified?
Paul’s expectation here isn’t for you to be a Super Christian where you show off your badge of faith at every turn. Humility is a big deal within the Christian faith. So, being a Christian show-off is not the point either.
This is a paradigm shift that Paul is seeking that affects how we go about living our days. Paul might say, “Stop allowing God in some places of your life without allowing God in other places.” You are supposed to be a follower of “The Way” 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. In simple terms, God should be the priority - period.
It goes without saying that no one is perfect, because every one of us has a sin nature that we inherited at birth. But, we all need to do some recalibrating in our thinking - myself included. Christ needs to be at the very center of everything I do. My daily life should reflect Christ and his teachings in all circumstances - not just what commonly is referred to as “sacred”. Remember that in God’s eyes, everything is sacred.
There are more ramifications to not thinking this way, but I’ll save those for another time as I promised I would keep this simple. This is enough to chew on for now. I pray you have a great day today, but do let Paul’s teachings about Christ ruminate in your soul. Pray today, asking the Lord if there are areas of your life where you are leaving him out but shouldn’t be.
God’s best for you today!
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