16th April 2024
Continue forward
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,
Colossians 2:6 (NIV)
Have you ever given up in frustration, only to find out that if you held on just a little while longer you would have won the battle? I think we all have been there. Battles are hard, that is why they call it a battle. I do not like conflict at all, I shrink away from it. Life is a battle, but the result is growth, strength, and joy. In this battle of life, Paul reminds those he is mentoring, and those he has yet to do so, that they have already received the prize of Christ Jesus. They do not have to fight for it, it is a gift given, secure and standing firm. Christ will never leave them; he will never leave you.
Some battles are more worthy than others. What I mean is that they hold more importance. Our salvation, our Christian walk holds more importance than the colour of the shoes we wear. We are filled with choices each day, problems to be solved, and directions to lean toward. What holds the top priority in your life? For Paul one of his priorities was the well-being of those he had come to love. He was determined to encourage them and continue to teach them of the blessings found in Christ. I hold encouragement high on my list of things to do. A little encouragement is said to go a long way. It opens the door to others taking that one more step forward so that they may take hold of the prize offered to us in ‘Dwelling in the fullness of Christ.’ Encouragement keeps us from giving up the battle and continuing forward.
We have only just begun to learn about Jesus and all the wonderful plans he has for us all. It will be an eternity of learning, and an eternity of continuing forward. As we move forward, we take along those who share with us in the joy of Jesus. As we hold others up, they lift us up as well; and Jesus holds us all up. We need to be firmly rooted in Christ (v. 7). Adversity is not all bad. A tree needs the wind pushing against it to strengthen it. It causes it to send its roots down deep into the ground and gives it the ability to stand firm in a storm. Some pines need to endure fire; it allows the seed to open and grow. Christ endured death on the cross to release us from the penalty of sin.
As we continue forward, may we go forward with Jesus. May we take others by the hand and lead them as Christ leads us. May we guard their lives with the truth found only in God. We can move forward because Jesus has already won the battle for us. Let us not lose heart and give up before we reach our goal. We just need to take hold of that which has already been won for us. Paul goes on to warn us that we need to remember that all we need is Jesus. ‘For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and Christ has been brought to you in fullness…’ (vv. 9-10). That is going straight to the top and not relying on the weaknesses of the world, not on our own weaknesses. Christ has triumphed over the powers of this world by the cross (vv. 13-15). We just need to continue forward in Jesus!
Prayer
We thank you God for never giving up on us, for not shrinking back from our sin, but continuing forward in your plan of salvation, and adoption of your children. You are our passion, thank you for being our, in Jesus’s name, Amen.
Study by Anne Gillam
About the writer:
Anne Gillam is a retired Pastor in Grace Communion International, Klamath Falls, Oregon, USA.
Local congregation:
You are welcome to attend one of our local church congregations located throughout the UK and Ireland. For details of your nearest local congregation check on our website, Grace Communion International | Grace Communion International under the ‘Churches’ tab, or ring +44 (0)1858 437099.
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church