Last time, we talked about how we are made complete in Christ as He fills us and equips us to do whatever He puts on our hearts to do. I am perfectly complete and adequate for any job Jesus asks me to do.
The rest of Colossians 2 shows me another aspect of this wonderful truth. Because I am complete in Christ, I can also be free from worry about accidently sinning and messing up if I don’t follow all the rules correctly.
For this to make sense, I need to give a little background on myself. I’ve known and accepted the truth of the gospel for most of my life: I was lost in my sin (my inability to do good by myself), Jesus died to save me from that sin, and after salvation I needed to live for Him and not sin anymore. I knew I was dead in my sin ithout Jesus.
You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. - Colossians 2:13 NLT
But I didn’t understand the grace of God, His beautiful, unearnable favor. I believed He sent Jesus to save me because of His great love, but now I had to follow all the rules or I would somehow lose His favor.
I know, that’s messed up thinking. The thing was, even though I had accepted Jesus into my life, I was trying to live for Him in my own way. I wasn’t living with Him.
I guess that’s why I find today’s verses so powerful. It was when I began to understand that living for Jesus isn’t about following rules, but simply letting Him guide me to make choices that honor Him, that I began to live a free and joyful life. Rules and fear about what would happen if I mess up aren’t part of my thinking anymore most days. Instead, it’s how can I serve my dear Lord today.
You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. - Colossians 2:20a NLT
And this wonderful change in perspective happens when I know that I am complete in Christ.
Think About: Are you living a free and joyful life in Christ?
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