Written by Kara Benson, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Little Rock, AR
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” (Col. 1:15-18)
Wow! If you skimmed or skipped the first paragraph, I encourage you to go back and reread it. These are meditation-worthy verses proclaiming the power and preeminence of Christ! From time to time, I need to be reminded that Christ is our head.
Christ is our head, not people. Often, we are guilty of putting people on a pedestal. They are inspiring teachers, great examples, and we naturally look up to them. However, esteeming someone too highly can be destructive to our faith if they fall. What happens when your beloved preacher, wonderful worship leader, or esteemed elder falls away? Would you feel lost without him and begin to question your own convictions? Or would your faith in Christ remain vibrant?
Jesus is our high priest; no one else can stand between us and God (Heb. 4:14-15). First Timothy 2:5 says, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” We should not let the opinions and decisions of others affect our relationship with God. If we trust in mankind, then we will be repeatedly disappointed. But “blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him” (Jer. 17:7). People will inevitably let us down, but God will remain a strong tower for the righteous.
Christ is our head, not culture. Let me be the first to say that culture is beautiful. Learning about the customs, foods, holidays, music, and languages of the world is fascinating to me. I fell in love with the Spanish language and studied it in school for nine years. Revelation 7 describes my favorite scene in the Bible: people from every nation, tribe, and language standing before the throne, robed in white, and worshipping our God. I am so excited to see that day!
We can certainly celebrate our culture and be proud of our heritage. But every culture is flawed because it is cultivated by flawed, broken people. There are parts of every culture that are sinful and need to be redeemed. In Romans 10:2-3, Paul writes that the people sought to establish their own righteousness instead of having their righteousness based on God. Cultures will vary and shift throughout the years, changing with each new generation. However, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8). Paul was willing to lay aside his cultural background when necessary for a higher calling, specifically winning the lost (1 Cor. 9:19-23). Following Jesus and His Word takes precedence over everything. Our allegiance is to Christ and the kingdom of God before any earthly kingdom, nation, or culture.
Christ is our head, not my emotions. Anxiety, anger, bitterness, loneliness, romantic passions, pride... if I am not careful, my emotions can run the show and run away with me. They may cause me to reinterpret scripture to fit what I want or justify poor choices. I may strongly feel a certain way, but the heart is deceptive above all else (Jer. 17:9). Emotions cloud our vision, which is why we must take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).
The body only moves where it is directed by the head. When a part of our body does not obey our mind, often there is pain and dysfunction. Likewise, when we follow people, culture, or emotions, there will be disunity and conflict in the body of Christ. Let us remember that Christ is our head. As Christians, we take our direction and priorities from Him and His Word.
His love and mercy, His sacrifice and self-denial, His obedience and desire to please the Father are our example. Christ has lordship over the church and over our lives. And His authority is good and glorious because He is our Savior who bought us back with His precious blood! Joyfully, we submit to Him!
“[God] has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.” (Heb. 1:2b-4)