Friday 04 September 2009

Background

Half way through this first chapter of his letter to theColossians (the people of Colossae in western Turkey), Paulpresents his readers with a glorious vision of the work of Christ.The section begins with language stretched to its limit with Pauldescribing Jesus as "the image of the invisible God, the first bornof all creation".

It is a powerful reminder to keep our eyes looking beyond theimmediate. For many of us our days are filled with a familiarroutine and we so easily get over-immersed in considering the smalldetails of all that our lives involve. Attention to detail can, ofcourse, be important, but the disciple of Jesus is invited to seethe daily detail against an eternal backcloth.

In this section, Paul provides that backcloth. Later in his letterhe will focus on some of the details of Christian discipleship, butbefore he does so, he wants to remind his readers that the Jesuswho they follow is worthy of their worship for he is the source ofcreation, he is head of the Church and he has brought salvationthrough the Cross.

Those involved in the Church today will recognise the problem ofserving God in what can, at times, seem a very human institution.We get distracted from the greater vision by the detail of runningan organisation. Paul will, later in this letter, give someguidelines about how the organisation of the Church should be run,but before he moves to such matters, he presents his readers -including ourselves - with a glorious vision of the person and workof Jesus, which should lift our hearts and minds in worship.

Paul urges the Colossians - and you and me - to worship Jesus ascreator of all; to worship Jesus as the head of the Church; and toworship Jesus as the one who, on the Cross, reconciled all thingsto himself.

To Ponder

Take some time to read slowly through today'sreading and to allow the glorious images to prompt yourprayers.

How can we ensure that helping to run the Churchdoesn't get in the way of our worship and discipleship?