Colossians 2 v 6 - 8

Christianity is a person-centred faith and that person is Jesus Christ. Let nobody forget that they follow a person! That means that each person's pilgrimage is going to be unique to them, although there are obvious boundaries. I have often experienced that sense of being 'hedged in' by God; a little like walking in a maze where the only choices are to go back or forward and the overall plan is hidden. So, there is an active part to Paul's exhortation in this passage and a co-operative element. 'Actively walk with Christ', Paul commands, but 'Let your roots grow down into Him'. In other words, this will happen as a result of following Him unless we actively block our growth. Why and how might we do that, we might think. Paul's main concern in this instance is that the believers in Colossae might get carried away with all this Gnostic nonsense that promises much-titles, acclaim, secrets revealed-but leads away from the simplicity of focussing on Jesus Christ. Be careful if you are someone who loves novelty, who gets bored easily, because the Christian walk is generally a quiet, modest living out our lives for Christ. In another letter, this one the first letter to the church at Thessalonica, Paul urges the believers to 'Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands'. Some of the fellowship there were so convinced that Jesus was to return any day that they had given up their jobs and were meeting on a mountain so as to be the first to see Him! Beware of the spectacular! Remember John's vision in the book of Revelation? '(The beast) did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching.' Don't let yourself become a Christian who is always looking for something new! Remind yourself of Paul's axiom, that he dedicated himself to preaching only the Gospel of Christ crucified. The test that you are following Christ, not some empty philosophy? You will overflow with thankfulness!