Colossians 1:13-18
Have you noticed the differences between a potato, an egg and coffee? On a simple observation the potato is firm all the way through, the egg has a tough exterior to protect a fragile interior and the coffee grounds are just small and lacking much substance. However, try placing each in a pan of boiling water for an hour. The firm potato turns to mush, the hard shelled egg becomes hard all the way through, but the coffee releases a wonderful aroma and flavor. When we face the trials of life an opportunity is placed before us to display what we are made of. Strength and strategy are used to describe a victor. This is true in a High School basketball game, politics, health or war. The strong one can be defeated if the opponent has a better strategy. The hot water of life’s strategic trials can turn our seeming firmness to mush that lacks any strength. The heat of trials can also turn those of us with a tough exterior shell into permanently hardened people with a hard heart. Or we can choose to be like coffee and allow the heat of trials to release the aroma and taste of Christ from our lives. Satan will attempt to use the trials to defeat us, but the believer displays that their strength is in the Lord.
In the book of Colossians we see that Paul, the author, is emphasizing the strength and strategy of Christ is all things. He is doing this to help a group of people that he has not met come to a correct understanding of God that leads to a correct practice of their faith. The church of Colossae has been infiltrated with false teachers and teachings stating that belief in Jesus is not enough. Paul begins his correction after giving a warm introduction (1:1-8) and a summary of the letter (1:9-10). Now in verses 13-18 Paul points out that Christ is superior in all areas of life. There should not be a separation of the sacred and the secular for the believer. Christ is to be supreme in the life of the believer in the good times and the hard times. Nothing is to be added and nothing more is needed. Is Christ your source of strength when you are in hot water? You see, when you are in hot water Christ has the best strategy to allow His strength to be seen through you.
Have you noticed the differences between a potato, an egg and coffee? On a simple observation the potato is firm all the way through, the egg has a tough exterior to protect a fragile interior and the coffee grounds are just small and lacking much substance. However, try placing each in a pan of boiling water for an hour. The firm potato turns to mush, the hard shelled egg becomes hard all the way through, but the coffee releases a wonderful aroma and flavor. When we face the trials of life an opportunity is placed before us to display what we are made of. Strength and strategy are used to describe a victor. This is true in a High School basketball game, politics, health or war. The strong one can be defeated if the opponent has a better strategy. The hot water of life’s strategic trials can turn our seeming firmness to mush that lacks any strength. The heat of trials can also turn those of us with a tough exterior shell into permanently hardened people with a hard heart. Or we can choose to be like coffee and allow the heat of trials to release the aroma and taste of Christ from our lives. Satan will attempt to use the trials to defeat us, but the believer displays that their strength is in the Lord.
In the book of Colossians we see that Paul, the author, is emphasizing the strength and strategy of Christ is all things. He is doing this to help a group of people that he has not met come to a correct understanding of God that leads to a correct practice of their faith. The church of Colossae has been infiltrated with false teachers and teachings stating that belief in Jesus is not enough. Paul begins his correction after giving a warm introduction (1:1-8) and a summary of the letter (1:9-10). Now in verses 13-18 Paul points out that Christ is superior in all areas of life. There should not be a separation of the sacred and the secular for the believer. Christ is to be supreme in the life of the believer in the good times and the hard times. Nothing is to be added and nothing more is needed. Is Christ your source of strength when you are in hot water? You see, when you are in hot water Christ has the best strategy to allow His strength to be seen through you.
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