Read Colossians 2
18-19Don't tolerate people who try to run your life, ordering you to bow and scrape, insisting that you join their obsession with angels and that you seek out visions. They're a lot of hot air, that's all they are. They're completely out of touch with the source of life, Christ, who puts us together in one piece, whose very breath and blood flow through us. He is the Head and we are the body. We can grow up healthy in God only as he nourishes us. (The Message)
I would like to think that I am an independent person able to think for myself and make choices based upon what is right for my faith, my family, and myself. I imagine that most of us would like to think that we are this way and that we are not easily swayed by the opinions of others. But the clothes we wear, the shows we watch, the cars we drive, the places we live all say that most of us our heavily influenced by the opinions of others. The truth is that each of us in our own ways is looking for approval from others and when we like the same things that they like it makes us feel like we fit in and have a place in the world. It is the same with our faith as it is in other parts of our lives.
Paul warns against getting caught up with other peoples agendas. He would never say that angels or visions are not important. What he is trying to point out is that each of us must put Jesus first in our lives and learn from him what a healthy faith life is for us individually and corporately. Paul is against making anything other than Jesus the central focus of our lives. This is one of the reasons that at New Ground we are working our way through the gospel of John for the past 5 months. We want to make sure that Jesus is at the center of who we are and what we do. I know that it will be difficult to avoid getting pulled into the debates of the day surrounding some important issues in the world. But I will do everything I possibly can to assure that we do not make anything other than Jesus our focus.
Paul warns against getting caught up with other peoples agendas. He would never say that angels or visions are not important. What he is trying to point out is that each of us must put Jesus first in our lives and learn from him what a healthy faith life is for us individually and corporately. Paul is against making anything other than Jesus the central focus of our lives. This is one of the reasons that at New Ground we are working our way through the gospel of John for the past 5 months. We want to make sure that Jesus is at the center of who we are and what we do. I know that it will be difficult to avoid getting pulled into the debates of the day surrounding some important issues in the world. But I will do everything I possibly can to assure that we do not make anything other than Jesus our focus.
Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:
- When you were growing up who did you want to emulate? Why?
- Where have you seen people try to make Jesus fit into their views on a particular issue?
- How does Jesus impact the way you look at the world and the important issues of the day?
- What are you learning about Jesus that is making your world view change?
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