Dear Saints of Valley Church,
Before winning eight gold medals (and breaking seven world records) at the 2008 Olympics, Michael Phelps made a life-altering commitment: he would train every single day, with no exceptions, for five years straight. He didn’t skip practice for birthdays, vacations, or even Christmas. The pursuit of his life’s goal was not just about the eight days of swimming competitions in Sydney; this goal ruled over the routines and relationships of his daily life.
As we consider Colossians 3:18-4:1 this Sunday, the apostle Paul speaks of a similar consistency, not for an athletic achievement but for spiritual authenticity. What does it mean to have a new life in Christ, be raised with Christ, and seek Christ (Colossians 3:1-4)? Christ’s resurrection makes an internal change in our hearts (3:5-14), but He’s more than just a secret Savior. Christ’s heavenly reign makes a corporate change in our Sunday worship (3:15-17), but He’s more than a Sunday Savior. Following the all-sufficient Savior means letting our love for him rule over the routines and relationships of our daily lives. For followers of Christ, He is not just the center of our hearts but also the center of the dinner table, the family room, and the office cubicle. We don’t just show our devotion to Jesus as Lord on Sundays, but also in how we treat our spouse, how we respond to our children, and how we work for our boss. Paul tells us that Christ’s rule over our daily relationships reveals His role in our hearts.
I hope you will join us this Sunday as we gather to encourage one another with the truth that Jesus is worthy of our worship, not just on Sunday but also in our daily relationships throughout the week. Come ready to hear from God’s Word and to sing to one another (two of the songs we will be singing are Jesus You Alone and It Is Well With My Soul) as we seek to encourage one another as we follow Jesus together.
By His strength and for His glory,
Craig Shigyo