Last night I read the text of this morning’s Sunday School lessons in the upper classes in our congregation: Colossians 1:9-29. The title of the lesson is “The Preeminence of Christ.”

I had two basic questions:

• How do I know — show, if you will — that Christ truly is preeminent in me?
• How is Christ preeminent in my church? (What does that look like, as “they” say?)

Those give the same fundamental question different phrasing. I leave the question and its answers hanging here.

Other observations of mine as I read and thought about what I had read:

1. Those who are “filled with the knowledge of his will” use that information to “walk worthy of the Lord.” Knowing His will, they make those constant choices which produce a life that corresponds to Christ and which pleases Him in all things. (Colossians 1:9,10)
2. The work of the Father has made us apt and equipped for receiving and enjoying His inheritance reserved for His chosen ones. It is His work, not mine. It is His worthiness, not mine. (Colossians 1:12)
3. God’s work delivers into His kingdom even the so-called most unlikely candidates. No matter how vile the sinner, God can deliver! Imagine the uplifting, reassuring effect Colossians 1:13 must have had in the hearts of those ex-pagan Gentile first-generation Christians in the early church.
4. Christ “is the head of the church…that in all things he might have the preeminence.” He is? Yes! He does? Yes! Both of those are factual statements, entirely independent of and undiminished by any contrary realities in my life and in the life of my congregation. Jesus is the preeminent head of the church. Period. Now — what’s the reality I am living personally and congregationally? If it is less than that, how so and why so? And why am I so complacent and insubordinate as to accept such an unholy, ungodly status quo? (Colossians 1:18)
5. Read Colossians 1:20-22 with Colossians 1:13 in mind. God’s work through Christ’s blood is so effective that it has redeemed and reconciled many of His enemies to Himself!
6. I don’t understand Colossians 1:24 as well as I wish I did, but, my ignorance aside, I am certain of this: Paul wasn’t whining and belly-aching about having suffered for Christ and the church.
7. “Christ in you” in Colossians 1:27 reminds me of “Christ liveth in me” in Galatians 2:20. The life of the Christian is possible no other way.
8. Christ’s “ambition” is to work in me mightily. Amazing! (Colossians 1:29)

I said I left the question and its answers hanging. But did I? Mostly, yes, but not entirely so. 🙂

Your thoughts?