Mystery of Christ in Colossians: the Grand Finale
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Back in 1995 we lived in Centerville, Ohio. Centerville had a wonderful little post office in those days right behind Bill's Donuts. In February of that year I stopped by to buy some stamps, noticing a large poster of the current stamp. As I awaited my turn in line, I reflected on the picture of the cherub I saw on the wall.
"Wait a minute," I said to myself, "I've seen that cherub before, but in a bigger painting."
I had taken art history in college and loved it! So I was wracking my brain to try to remember what painting it was part of.
I couldn't let it rest...so it sent me to the library to those big, dusty art books.
Sure enough, here's the painting those little cherubs are part of:
The cherubs are hardly noticed in this painting. The obvious focal point is the mother and child...but the mother, more than the child!
"Wow," I thought, "Isn't that just like what we do in our Christian life? We loose our focal point -- the Lord Jesus Christ! Rather we focus on all the peripheral Christian things, as good as many of them may be.
In the book of Colossians, we have had our focus sharpened to see that truly...
Jesus + nothing = Everything
Earlier today, my husband and I were driving along, listening to a collection of old songs by the Carpenters. They were popular during our "courtship" in the 1970's.
One of Karen Carpenter's most romantic songs is I Won't Last a Day Without You. As it began to play, I remembered using it in a ladies Bible study with the statement, "The only One we could really sing this to is our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lover of our Souls!"
Enjoy it with me, O Bride of Christ...sing it from your heart to your True Bridegroom:
I Won't Last A Day Without You
Day after day I must face a world of strangers Where I don't belong, I'm not that strong It's nice to know that there's someone I can turn to Who will always care, you're always there
When there's no getting over that rainbow When my smallest of dreams won't come true I can take all the madness the world has to give But I won't last a day without you
So many times when the city seems to be without a friendly face A lonely place It's nice to know that you'll be there if I need you And you'll always smile, it's all worthwhile
When there's no getting over that rainbow When my smallest of dreams won't come true I can take all the madness the world has to give But I won't last a day without you
Touch me and I end up singing Troubles seem to up and disappear You touch me with the love you're bringing I can't really lose when you're near
If all my friends have forgotten half their promises They're not unkind, just hard to find One look at you and I know that I could learn to live Without the rest, I found the best
When there's no getting over that rainbow When my smallest of dreams won't come true I can take all the madness the world has to give But I won't last a day without you
When there's no getting over that rainbow When my smallest of dreams won't come true I can take all the madness the world has to give But I won't last a day without you
Thank you, dear sisters and brothers, for journeying with me. May the Lord continue to use His Word and His Spirit to reveal Himself to us.
