WEDNESDAYS WEEKLY WORD...Who's in charge here?

We missed WEDNESDAY WEEKLY WORD last week because of the holiday but I am glad to get back into the study of Colossians. If this is your first time here... on Wednesdays we review the Bible Study that I am currently studying. Currently, I am being taught by Paul and the Christians at Colossae. Come join me and we can take the journey together....

HOW CAN WE KEEP THE CHURCH

OF CHRIST ACTING AS A BODY?

It starts with making sure the church remains connected to the head.

There is an old comedy series that I used to like to watch on television, Third Rock from the Sun. In this show, a group of aliens would spy on earthlings and then report their findings to a leader called "the Big Giant Head". The completion of their mission on earth depended on regular contact with this "Big Giant Head".

If you think about it, this is exactly the equivalent of what Paul calls us to do in Scripture. In all that we do we, as the body of Christ, are to keep in touch with Christ, who is our Head.

Failing to keep in touch with the Head (Christ), will lead us to forget who is in charge and this will lead others to use their control to lead us astray. When Christ is left out of our lives, a huge void is planted and it doesn't take much for someone or something to fill that void.

"Take charge of your life!"

This is what society tells us. The problem is that when we take control of our lives without the direction and leading of God, we can be quickly directed by sin. Some people allow their friends and their co-workers to direct their lives. They allow themselves to be judged by the values and principles of others. This will lead to a kind of slavery to the other person because we are always trying to measure up and win their approval.

Two weeks ago, in the YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL, I polled the readers the following question: "In what area of behaviour do you feel others are most likely to judge you?". The top 3 answers were:

1. 57% of those polled, said that they would be judged by their appearance (looks, weight, etc.)
2. 21% of the readers voted and said that what they ate or drink would be judged by others.
3. 14% voted and said that they would be judged in some other way by others.

This poll reveals to me that we are people who either are currently being judged or fear we will be judged by others. There is only One who can judge us accordingly and that is Christ. However, we cannot make Christ Head of our lives if we have already given this "judging" power to someone else.

COLOSSIANS 2:18, 19 "Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind. (19) and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God."

To walk in a manner worthy of our Lord, we must make Christ the undisputed Head of our lives!

WE MUST HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION
It is easy to make a plan and set goals:

...when going on a diet
avoid certain foods, lower calorie intake, exercise

...when we want to strengthen our marriage
make a date, communicate more, send flowers

...when you desire to be a better parent
spend more time with the kids, talk with them about their day

Making the plan is sometimes easier than keeping the plan!

So how do you make a plan of action when the goal is to keep Christ as Head of your life?
It seems a little too abstract.

Develop goals such as:
~avoid others to determine your "do's" and "don'ts"
~seek God's direction in all things
~compare what others say to what God's Word says
~evaluate the motive behind actions of others, does it lead you to Christ?
~begin each day with Christ (in prayer, in reading the Word, in stillness)

Splitting the role of "Who's in charge" between God and yourself or between God and others will not work.

COLOSSIANS 2:20-22 "If you died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to decrees such as: (21) 'Don't handle, don't taste, don't touch'? (22) All these refer to what is destroyed by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines."

Paul reminds us that there is only One who can be in charge and He is the Head, not only in the church body but He needs to be the Head of our lives!

WHO HAVE YOU PLACED IN CHARGE?

These are my thoughts as I study the book of Colossians. It is my prayer that this week before you make any decisions, that you will ask yourself, "Who am I thinking about pleasing when I make this decision? -Is it a parent? A spouse? A friend? Or is it Christ? Is this what Jesus would have me do?" Doing this will allow all of us to make clearer decisions led by our Head, Jesus Christ.

YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL: Please take time to vote in this week's poll. It is located on the side bar of this blog. Your opinion really does matter!!