Christian and non-Christian are often flippant with His name.

 

September 17, 2010

Colossians 1:15-20

It has been my pleasure to introduce a few people and often it seems that many of their accomplishments were not note worthy.  But in Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae, he is introducing Christ.  While reading these verses I’m stricken with astonishment at how casual we are with His name.  How little thought to the majesty of the name of Jesus, the Christ. The name of Jesus is magnificent in all it ways, and yet both Christian and non-Christian are often flippant with His name. 

Jesus once asks His disciples, “But who do you say that I am?”  Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:15-16) This is Paul’s proclamation; “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by him all things were created, in the heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church.  He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.  For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:15-20)

If after reading this public announcement by Paul, your mind and your heart are not moved by His majesty, stop and ask the Father of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to introduce His Son to you.  It is the heart of God that you know His only Son and that you enter into a personal relationship with the God that Paul proclaimed.  All that was created and that includes you was formed by Christ, the prophet Jeremiah speaking under the direction of the Holy Spirit made this statement; “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)  We also have King David being led by the Holy Spirit, speaking these words; “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.”  (Psalm 139:16)

I find myself humbled in the presence of my Lord, and my heart is fully in agreement with king David, as he proclaims, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:9)  But I also find myself in total agreement with Isaiah the prophet; “Woe to me!” I cried.  “I am ruined!  For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:5)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice