40 Days Blog - Day 29
I remember years ago discussing with a prayer partner about the rote words, ‘In Jesus’ name, Amen.’ They had become a kind of empty sign off, like ‘Kind regards’ at the end of an email. To help reinvigorate the words, we shifted the ‘in Jesus’ name’ to the start of the prayer. Perhaps beginning our prayers with, “
Lord, we come before you only through the work of Jesus…”. It did help to give different emphasis on the phrase, and it also helped me to put Jesus first. Which is, of course, where He comes: first and above all.
Paul has started the letter with greetings, prayer and thanksgiving. As he gets into the body of what he wants to say, Paul lifts up Jesus to prominence.
He is reminding us of why we are all here together, why we are reading these words, why we meet to worship:
we follow Jesus. Other teaching will be given; teaching on how we behave, and what we spend our time on. First, foremost, underpinning it all, is Christ.
Examples of Christ coming first:
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Firstborn of all creation – (in context of the time) firstborn is the foremost and greatest of the children. All other heirs come after.
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Head of the body (His people) – Christ is head of the church. Other authority comes after. Paul will come back to this idea of a body in future chapters.
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Firstborn from the dead – Jesus was raised first from the dead, and that promise is for us when we face death too.
Of course, since Jesus is first, then we must follow after. From
verse 13 Paul sets up the ‘old and new’ comparison.
We can probably think of times in our lives when everything changed. Perhaps a change of location, the birth of a child, or the flash of inspiration from a new job.
The big changing moment here is
reconciliation (
v22). We were apart from God, and are now with God. It is Jesus who has created this coming together. His work on the cross has made us presentable to be in the presence of true holiness.
A Prayer
Lord God, through the work of Christ, we come before you. Through the work of Jesus we are acceptable to you. Give us the strength and wisdom to keep Him first before us. First in our joy and comfort; first in our pain and sorrow; before us always to lead us on. Help us to keep Him first and foremost as we go through these books. Let us see Him in all things.
Amen.
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