Serving With Or Without A Smile Series

Colossians 1:24--2:5 – Serving with or without a smile

By James Galbraith

First Baptist Church, Port Alberni

October 7, 2007- Thanksgiving Sunday

Text

Col 1:24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Col 1:28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Col 2:1 I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

Introduction

A college professor tells of being invited to speak at a military base one December and there meeting an unforgettable soldier named Ralph.

Ralph had been sent to meet him at the airport, and after they had introduced themselves, they headed toward the baggage claim.

As they walked down the concourse, Ralph kept disappearing.

Once to help an older woman whose suitcase had fallen open.

Once to lift two toddlers up to where they could see Santa Claus.

And again to give directions to someone who was lost.

Each time he came back with a big smile on his face.

"Where did you learn to do that?" the professor asked.

"Do what?" Ralph said

"Where did you learn to live like that?"

"Oh," Ralph said, "during the war, I guess."

Then he told the professor about his tour of duty in Vietnam,

about how it was his job to clear mine fields, and how he watched his friends blow up before his eyes, one after another.

"I learned to live between steps," he said.

"I never knew whether the next one would be my last, so I learned to get everything I could out of the moment between when I picked up my foot and when I put it down again. Every step I took was a whole new world, and I guess I’ve just been that way ever since."

The abundance of our lives is not determined by how long we live,

but how well we live it.

Christ makes abundant life possible if we choose to live it now,

and part of the key to that abundance is learning to serving others,

in good times and bad.

Review

In the previous passage in Colossians, Paul has just finished sharing one of the most powerful descriptions of Christ you will ever find.

It is a complete profile of Christ,

which shows him to be Lord over all the known and unknown world – visible and invisible, physical and spiritual, alive and dead.

Paul’s intent is to show the Colossians that the saviour

who they have chosen to follow is everything they need for life,

and no matter what their situation or needs,

Jesus is ready and able to help.

He is indeed Immanuel, or “God with us”

Now we are seeing Paul’s personal reaction to his knowledge of this incredible saviour. He’s spent his time up to now teaching about Jesus, now he is sharing what Jesus means to him personally.

It boils down to being ready to serve Jesus and his church,

regardless of the difficulties he may face.

Paul tells or shows us three different things about serving the Lord -

1. He is ready to suffer for those who Christ also suffered for.

2. He keeps his message simple, teaching about Jesus himself,

to those who know him and those who don’t.

3. He wants them to know how much they are truly cared for.

Exegesis

1. He is ready to suffer for those who Christ also suffered for.

“ I rejoice in what was suffered for you” –