You Play A Part

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.  See to it..." — Colossians 2:6-8a, ESV


I have received Christ.  He is a real part of my life.  Here's what follows receiving him, though.  WALK IN HIM.  It is not enough to "pray a prayer" and think that the simple recitation is all that is necessary for salvation.  The key to salvation is Christ.  First, his invitation.  Second, our response to that invitation.  And our response is this: complete and total abandon.  Galatians 2:20 says it this way:  "I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."  I cannot claim that I personally have a life to live.  I don't.  I gave that life up.  I am completely changed by Christ, and my identity is completely wrapped up in Christ.  I am called to live, but I'm called to live according to Christ, not try to live my life as if he doesn't exist.  And the life I live: it must be worthy of the high calling that I have received ("...so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord...", Col. 1:10).

But here's the part where you play a part.  Notice the last three words of the passage quoted above (Colossians 2:8a).  See to it...  This was Paul's way of saying, "Hey you, Christian, pay attention and beware."  And notice what the warning was:  "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elementary spirits of the world, and not according to Christ" (Colossians 2:8, ESV).  This means that I am responsible to keep watch and pay attention.  I am responsible to spend time in God's word, both in order to spend time with him and to understand more about him and his ways.  There are tons of opinions out there.  There are tons of perspectives.  However, there must be a right one.  The Bible has proved true time and time again.  We as Christians need to be in the Bible as much as possible.  To claim to know Christ without spending time in that which he gave to us to describe him even more is ludicrous.  To be passive in this following of Christ rather than being proactive is a dangerous move.  I must strive to understand the core doctrines of the Christian faith.  I must strive to understand God and his character more and more every day.  I must be disciplined in my walk with Jesus.  I must SEE TO IT.

So remember (and apply this as needed): It is not the responsibility of my pastor to make sure that I'm growing in Christ.  It is not the responsibility of my parents to make sure that I know what I believe.  It is ALL MY RESPONSIBILITY to see to it that I do not fall away.  It is completely my responsibility to grow in my relationship with Christ.  It's mine.  I've been warned.  I must hang on and pull through.