So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2 v.6-7
One of the great sadness’s of the Christian life is to see someone who begins well but fails to continue. Jesus, in the Parable of the Sower paints four scenarios, three which describe how this can happen with the fourth being what Paul is drawing attention to here, namely continuing.
In many areas of life continuing, keeping going, can be hard because there are so many distractions that will draw us away from our daily walk with Christ Jesus and I guess most of us have grappled with this problem. It is a problem we need to address for the warning of Hebrews 6 v.4-6 is very stark.
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
This represents the extreme case and is clearly very serious so we all need to guard our walk and ensure that day by day we are continuing with him.
Notice the action words of our verse.
Received
Continue
Rooted
Built up
Strengthened
Overflowing
Do a spiritual check up! You received Christ Jesus – became a Christian. Are you continuing?
Are you deeply rooted (cf Psalm 1 from our meditations earlier this month)? Is the construction work (building) going on in your life? Is your faith stronger now than when you first believed? Not because of anything you have done but because you know more of Christ and his infinite resources and therefore trust him more for the daily challenges you face. Are you being taught? In your own study and together with God’s people. Is it obvious as people see you ‘overflowing with thankfulness?)
What is the secret? Continue to live in Christ Jesus as Lord! As we saw yesterday this was the driving goal of Paul’s life. May it be ours today!