I was reading through a book recently, and as I read it, I pondered again about what it means to be a Christian. Not theologically, but perhaps in the daily sense. I thought of what it meant to from a perspective and allegiance point of view.
There is a Christ-centredness about the life of a believer that I think most believers to an extent do not recognize or understand that influences the execution of their lives. I do not speak as one accomplished in this, but rather as one who is obtaining mercy to continue.

The Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Colossians made some disclosures that appear plain, but are revolutionary in their implications.
[16] Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see–kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities. Everything has been created through him and for him.
[17] He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together.
Col 1:16-17 (NLT)
Ponder for a moment about what you are reading. What does it mean to you when scriptures says everything has been created through Him and for Him? Think far and wide, but also think of yourself, your relationships, your family, etc. Does this understanding change anything in your perspective and participation?
Maybe the Message Bible Paraphrase will help:
For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels–everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.
Col 1:16 (MSB)
My God! Everything, absolutely everything…everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him. Do we see the futility of thinking of things, trying to resolve them outside of Christ and without reference to Him? Everything makes sense only when we bring them into a right relationship with Christ.
He didn’t just create things and allow them to run on autopilot and figure out how they will sharpen and work out. He is far too intentional and purposeful for that. Scripture says, He holds all creation together.
I know people point out the chaos, pain and seeming randomness in the world as proof that there is no Creator. This is simply arrogance, as though an uncreated universe without purpose and design will fare better than this.
The Message Bible says in verse 17; He holds it up together right up to this present moment.
Probably your life is falling apart, things are not adding up, and you are between a rock and a hard place. Tell you what, He has got you covered. It sounds counterintuitive to the truth, but right up to this moment, He is holding your life together.
He is holding your family together, He is holding your marriage together, He is holding your walk with Him together, even in the face of global warming, and all the nuclear weapons and talk of wars upon wars, He is holding the created world together.
This then is the sum: Everything, absolutely everything was created by Him. And for everything that He creates, He takes maximum responsibility to uphold and hold together. Everything finds its purpose in Him.
Living our lives without dependent recourse to Him is the greatest disservice we can do to ourselves.

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