The following is from It’s All about Jesus, a one-year devotional that will be used as a fundraiser for the spread of His gospel through 100 reputable ministries, many of whom you know.
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All things were created through him and for him.
Colossians 1:16
Everything exists for Jesus. He’s the center of creation and history. While that can be easily expressed in a few words, the discovery of it will take endless ages. Thus, the more Christ-centered we are, the more we’ll be in tune with the sole reason for all existence.
This also means that you exist for Him. While addressing His people, God stated: “Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made” (Isa. 43:7). As a Christian, you exist for Christ’s glory.
Since sin means “to miss the mark,” everything that isn’t wholly centered on the glory of Christ is sin, including all the “good” works we may have performed. It has missed the goal and any joy in it is insane, as we would readily agree with in sports. No one would take a soccer player serious if he celebrated after missing a lose-or-win penalty. Rather, he would be the laughing stock of the media.
How do Christians exist for His glory? My favorite analogy is when Jesus said: “I am the vine; you are the branches” (John 15:5). We’ve been born again to be a branch in Jesus. As such, we have no life within ourselves and cannot produce anything by ourselves. We receive all life, growth, and fruitfulness from Him.
That’s why Paul referred to the gospel as, “the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:4). Every branch exists to display His beauty and excellence as one’s Life-Giver and Life-Sustainer, producing all growth and fruitfulness. The Christian life is through Him and also for Him. Isn’t that good news?
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