Jesus Above All

By Joe Keim

July 1, 2023

Colossians 2

3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition

of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

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The early church continually struggled to keep their eyes on Jesus Christ. They took the spiritual gifts that God gave to the body and turned them into a man-made religion. They sought after visions and worshipped angels (Col 2). Rather than learning and growing in Jesus Christ (the Head of the church, the Vine, Cornerstone and Foundation of Christianity), they focused on and ran after healings, miracles, tongues (1 Cor 11-15). They elevated certain days of the week/month/year and worshipped "the day" instead of Jesus Christ (Rom 14 and Col 2).

Soon the body of Jesus Christ became puffed up! They were ever and only self-focused and fleshly minded - just like the world. Their humility was a false humility. The body of Christ brought confusion to the ones who were surrendering their lives to Jesus Christ. It was a mess!

This self-worship and confusion led to sinful lifestyles in the church. It led to division, gluttony, fornication, and drunkenness. Some were dying because God said ENOUGH is enough and ended their lives early (1 Cor 11)!

In addition to making religions out of God's gifts to the church, the body of Jesus Christ made another very big mistake when they began to follow the leaders of the church instead of Jesus Christ. They elevated teachers and preachers over Jesus Christ. They enjoyed microwave Christianity more than they did faithfulness and endurance.

We are seeing the same mistakes being made in our generation today. Some of us are following men and ministries instead of Jesus Christ. Some of us are making religions out of God's gifts. Some of us are living in the moment instead of eternity.

I urge myself first and you also, let's keep our eyes on Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. He is our Rock! Our Cornerstone! The Foundation of the Faith. The Way! The Truth! The Life!

Far too many have and will continue to follow the crowds, the noise, the action, and the drama. None of these should ever take the place of the One who gave HIS all for you and me!

Now that Jesus has been lifted high and worshipped above all else, enjoy His goodness and all the gifts He readily disperses among His sons and daughters in the Kingdom.

 

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