Colossians 1:24-2:5
The meaning of life is found in Jesus Christ
The meaning of your life is found in Jesus Christ. Christianity is Christ. This passage highlights how Paul’s entire life, thinking and preaching are focused on Jesus Christ.
Paul is in prison suffering for the sake of Christ’s body: that is, the church (1:24). Paul is a servant of Christ, commissioned to disclose the mystery that was kept hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed (v.26). God has ‘chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory’ (v.27).
There will always be an emptiness in your heart until it is filled by Christ living within you. The moment you put your faith in him, he came to live within you by his Spirit. You experience, right now, ‘the glorious riches of this mystery’ and you have ‘the hope of glory’ (v.27).
Jesus Christ should be at the centre of all our teaching and preaching in the church. Paul writes, ‘We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ’ (v.28).
Not only is Christ in you, but you are also ‘in Christ’. Paul’s desire is that everyone should grow and mature in this relationship. This is what drives him: ‘To this end I labour, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me’ (v.29).
This provides an excellent model for pastoral care, discipleship and mentoring:
The aim
Paul’s aim was to bring ‘each person to maturity’ in Christ (v.28, MSG).
Our concern should be for each person. As a good pastor, Paul did not want to lose any of his sheep.
Aim for spiritual maturity. This does not happen overnight. It takes a lifetime.
Aim for maturity in Christ. We do not want to attach people to ourselves, but to Christ. In the same way that good parents encourage their children to be independent, Paul encouraged the independence of believers – not to be dependent upon him, but strengthened to cling to Christ.
The method
Our method should be to proclaim Jesus. Paul wrote, ‘We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom’ (v.28). Jesus Christ is the key to spiritual maturity. As your knowledge of and intimacy with Jesus increases, you grow in maturity.
That is why it is so important to prioritise the things in your life that feed that knowledge and intimacy – such as worship, prayer and Bible reading.
The commitment
Paul writes, ‘To this end I labour, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me’ (v.29). In Paul’s ministry, there was a balance between God’s grace and his own responsibility. There was an element of ‘toiling’ and ‘striving’, which all effective Christian ministry involves. It requires time and effort, overcoming disappointments and difficulties.
On the other hand, you can only do it through God’s grace. You do not ‘labour’ and ‘struggle’ on your own. You do it with ‘all his energy, which so powerfully works in [you]’. You need his help and his power for each and every task.
What delights Paul is to see ‘how firm’ the Colossians ‘faith in Christ is’ (2:5). The whole purpose of Paul’s life revolved around Jesus: ‘I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God’s great mystery. All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else’ (vv.2–3, MSG).
Lord, thank you that I found the meaning of life in Christ. Thank you that you came to live within me by your Spirit. Thank you that in Jesus I find all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Help me to proclaim Jesus Christ and to present everyone fully mature in Christ.