Being A Christian

“This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace” Col.1:6

The Word of God is so powerful, rich, beautiful, and so amazing. We are going to be spending a lot of time with God’s Word over the next few weeks as we study the Book of Colossians. Please study Colossians chapter one as we kick off our study from there. Being a Christian is all about life change. The Word of God has come to us to change our lives. If who you were before you met Christ does not change after you met Christ, it is questionable if you have really met Christ. In fact, the power of the Gospel is life change. “This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace” Col.1:6 [emphasis added].

Let us back track a little to do some theological justice. The Book of Colossians is largely credited to Paul and he shares the credit with Timothy. Epaphras, and not Paul, was the Pastor and founder of the church in Colossae. But Paul as an Apostle felt responsible for the region. In fact, Paul felt responsible for preaching to the world. Epaphras had a challenge; the church was beginning to embrace philosophies that did not necessarily compel them to deny Christ, but suggested that Jesus is not enough which was even more dangerous. Interestingly, even today we experience similar struggles with philosophies that do not say deny Christ but say that Jesus is not enough. A lot of people are oblivious of the underlining objective of these philosophies because it is not visibly direct. But it pushes Jesus and good works, Jesus and oblations, Jesus and sacrifices, Jesus and prophets. Epaphras struggled with this as a Pastor and I can understand his plight.

Every parent must understand the Principle of Borrowed Voices, particularly as your children become teenagers. The Colossian church, as it where, had become teenagers in the faith and were exploring and testing things that God did not send them to test. So Epaphras needed a borrowed voice. Which is why you need to exist in community. You are a great person and your children love you but every parent needs a borrowed voice, someone external and God fearing that will echo godly values. Interestingly, sometimes they listen to outsiders more than they listen to their parents, have you noticed?

Prayer: Holy Spirit, please place a guard over my heart against philosophies that downplay Jesus, in Jesus Name.