Colossians 1:28 - Public Displays of Affection for God

Colossians 1:28 “We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.”

Have you ever seen someone who has had something amazing happen recently?  A lottery winner cannot but help to tell everyone about his big win. A newly wed couple feels the innate need to tell everyone how amazing their new spouse is. Even someone with a new job seems to have to tell everyone about it.   What about people obsessed with something? A rabid baseball fan talks about baseball to everyone. The girl who is agog about design will try to teach everyone she knows about design, and how they should see it as important.  The enthusiastic political party member just has to expound on their ideas, ideals, and what “facts” they know to anyone and everyone.

Every single one of these examples above is trying to share something important in their life with everyone else around them, hoping that their joy and passion can become a joy and passion to the person they are sharing with.  Now all these examples are worldly and transitory things, but we can learn from it.  How excited have we remained about Christ and the perfection we have received in Him? How amazed are we at the idea that we are constantly being covered in His love?  How often do we find ourselves really having to try and not share our passion, Christ, with everyone?

When did we lose this aspect of our lives? When did being adopted into God's family become humdrum and routine?  When did we decide that it wasn't important to try and help others find the Father? Are we that scared of ridicule that we are willing to forgo teaching and helping other people find redemption from sin and becoming perfect creations in Christ?

God is a mighty conquerer, true. He is the Creator of all Heaven and Earth, true. He loves everyone who is alive, has lived, or will ever live, and this is also true. What else is true is that He leaves the details of spreading the word about Him to people to us, because He wants us to share in His perfect joy.  There is nothing better, nothing sweeter, nothing more encouraging than to see someone who once was against God turn to Him and seek Him out. Knowing that you were blessed with the chance to be part of that turn around is amazing as well and highly gratifying – of all people God used you to reach out to that person!

This week, why don't we re-establish and renew our love affair with God. Lets relearn to rejoice at our adoption into His family! Lets also relearn to not be afraid to live His word out despite ridicule. Who knows, it might be that you will be able to help those ridiculing you to turn towards Christ and find the same joy that you have!

I was there when it happened, and I ought to know;
His Spirit burning in me, set my heart aglow;
So I praise the Lord today, He has washed my sins away;
I was there when it happened, and I ought to know.
                                                                      Herbert J. Lacey, 1920.