Apr 19 - Colossians 2:7

Continue to live your lives in Christ,

rooted and built up in him

and established in the faith,

just as you were taught,

abounding in thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:7

What does it look like to “live your li[fe] in Christ”?

•      First, we must know Christ. In fact, that’s assumed by Paul in this passage. That’s why he says, “Continue to live your lives in [Him].”
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•      Living a life in Christ means being rooted in him. Do you remember the parable of the sower? Jesus was talking about the spreading of the Word as a farmer spreads seed. Some grain fell on rocky ground and some on shallow ground. Both of these withered and died. Therefore, Paul is implying here that the first step in a life of faith – beyond the initial hearing of the Word – is paying enough attention to it that roots begin to grown. Thus, our first question is: Are you paying attention to God’s Word?
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•      Next, living a life in Christ means being “built up in him.” Notice the verb. It’s more passive. It doesn’t say, “build yourself up in him.” It implies that as we root ourselves in God and his word, he does the building. This step, then, involves submission. Have you given God a building permit to your life (permission to remodel and change you) … or are you tying him up in the red tape of your pride and control.
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•      Living a life in Christ also requires time. No habit is “established” in a day. It takes time and discipline to become “established.”
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•       “Just as you were taught” is another form of submission. It’s submitting yourselves to the Apostles first – they had Paul in person, we have the God and the Apostle’s Word. Second, it’s becoming part of community of faith and submitting yourself to faithful teaching and accountability within a family of faith.
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•      Finally, living a life in Christ requires worship. That’s what “abounding in thanksgiving” is. Worship points us continually beyond ourselves and up to God.

Do you want to live a life in Christ? First, believe in him. Then … study his word … give him permission to change you … devote time and attention … be a submitted, committed part of a church family … and worship frequently!

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s always remodeling

(and needs remodeling)