PleasingJesus

  • Jason Smith
  • Oct 5, 2008
  • Series: Walk the Line: A study of Colossians

"Because You're mine, I walk the line." Those words of the familiar Johnny Cash hit could have been penned by the Apostle Paul nearly 2000 years ago. In the letter to the Colossians, Paul motivates us to follow Jesus wherever He takes us. He repeatedly points out the need for us to grasp the significance of our position in Christ and how our walk is transformed by His presence in our lives. In this short letter, Paul refers to Jesus by name more than 50 times. As we work our way through this letter over the next couple months, the significance of this will become evident. Paul's objective is clear to point the Colossians to Jesus Christ and encourage their walk in Him. The equation that we will find in Colossians is Jesus + nothing = Life. This is not the equation that the world proposes to us, Jesus + our job, our family, our friends, our car, our hobbies, our (you fill in the blank). This isn't even the question that the church has proposed for much of history, Jesus + works, Jesus + tradition, Jesus + experience, Jesus + ____ (you fill in the blank). With all these obstacles that are placed in our path it is no wonder that we have trouble walking the line. Fortunately for the Colossians and for us, Paul knows that in Christ we can walk the line. Before we begin our study of this amazing, challenging letter, let's pray for God's wisdom and guidance to help us grasp this truth for our lives.

Let's begin our study of Colossians beginning in chapter 1, verse 1. 1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, Paul begins this letter from the outset placing himself in Christ. If you remember, Paul was walking a much different path before he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. He was overseeing the beating, imprisonment and murder of Christians. Paul was not walking in Christ, he was walking opposed to Christ. But now we see that Paul's position has changed. He describes himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. Paul knew now that on his own his couldn't walk in a way that pleased God, it was only by the calling and commission of God that he was able to fulfill his role as an apostle. Because of the change that was made in his life Paul is responsible for 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament. God had chosen Paul and he redirected his path to glorify Jesus Christ. That is the role of an apostle. That is the role of a follower of Christ. Paul mentions Timothy here at the beginning of the book. Of all the things that God accomplished through Paul, I believe that Timothy was one of his proudest. Paul had mentored Timothy to the point where Timothy was a mentor to others and was reproducing his faith into many other lives. Paul often mentions Timothy as an invaluable co-worker in the mission.