All Jesus, All The Time!

Over 200 channels of programming flow into my house on the cable that stretches from the street. The sheer number of channels means that programmers can stick to one narrow topic. There is an Animal Planet channel dedicated to, you guessed it, animals! There are several channels that report the news (or some variation of it) 24/7! ESPN and her sister channels bring sports and stats our way endlessly. Just how many ways can sportscasters describe a homerun hit in the Series? Religious channels brings every variety of modern Christianity from Sister Angelica's Catholicism on EWTN to 'charismania' on TBN. These channels attract an audience by knowing what they are about and focusing on that subject.


I want to know Who I am about and focus my life on Him! In Colossians 3, disciples are urged to make life about the Lord Jesus. "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:2-4, NIV) Do you understand that, friend? The meaning of our lives is wrapped up in Jesus Christ. The title we hold at work, the level of achievement that we reach, the grades our kids earn in school, the size of our house, the amount of our salary, the hobby we enjoy on the weekend - we are not living for these things! If we do, we're missing out on 'real life.' We will devote our energy and give our time and money to something that will inevitably disappoint us.

If, however, our lives are focused intensely on Him, if His will shapes our conversations, our actions, our hopes and dreams- we have the promise that we will share the full glory of Christ. Think of it this way. Early in an American presidential campaign, candidates announce their intention to run. They hire staff, people who choose to invest themselves in the man or woman who is running. Those staffers know that their future is now fully invested in that person. If he succeeds and is elected to sit in the Oval Office, they will gain a seat at the table of power. If he fizzles and fades, they will go back to some obscure job in the political world. Similarly, if we invest our lives in Jesus Christ, we are assured that when He takes His Throne and reveals the fullness of His Kingdom, we will bask in the Glory right alongside of Him!

Disciple, be wary of allowing your life to be about too many things. Many Christians are ineffective and joyless because they are unfocused. Yes, they love Jesus Christ and know Him, but they also love reputation, or money, or pleasure, or ... the distractions make a long list. Take a cue from the narrowcasters of the cable networks. Find out Who you're about then focus, focus, focus on Him. "Let every detail in your lives-words, actions, whatever-be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way." (Colossians 3:17, The Message)
Don't misunderstand what the Word asks. It is not spending our entire life in church! We are not asked to become cloistered nuns or monks chanting in a chapel! We need not retire to a commune in Montana to be 'about Christ.' Rather, we take the stuff of our daily life - being a spouse, being an employee, being a neighbor; yes, just being human - and we focus on doing whatever we do in a way that reflects His will, His purposes, His values. When we make life about Jesus, all the time, we will begin to live as we pray - "may your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." Amen!

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Let Christ in us be glorified.
Christ in us be magnified.
Self denied, sin crucified.
Let Christ be glorified,
Let Christ be glorified.

In ev'ry song we sing,
In the praises that we bring,
Let Christ be glorified.
In the service that we give,
And the lives that we live,
Let Christ be glorified.

Christ in us be glorified.
Christ in us be lifted high.
Let His love in us be shown,
And His praises all be known.
Let Christ be glorified.

Christ In Us Be Glorified

Chapman, Morris
© 1995 Maranatha Praise, Inc.
CCLI License No. 810055