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Walk in Christ ...

Tuesday, Jan 29, 2019. As Christians, we are called to walk in Christ. But what does it mean? Do we understand? Do we do it? Do we know what it means? We can read a lot about Jesus in the gospels and letters of the New Testament. We can read a lot about faith in the whole bible. It is a book full of inspiration, full of wisdom, full of truth, love, joy and encouragement.

Fullness …

In the letter to the Colossians we are called to walk in Christ. Let us read the original passage:

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. (Kol 2, 6ff)

Christ is fantastic. Jesus is fantastic. Reading about him in the gospels we can be inspired, our heart can be set to fire. What is it that excites you, with your special personal perspective? Think about it, and tell me. Where is Jesus touching your heart, your life, your hopes and dreames?

For me, there are many things which come to my mind immedately when I think about Jesus. Thoughts are popping up rapidly. First of all: he is fully human. He is who he is, not depending on many things we usually depend upon when we live in our environment. He is looking at people, taking them serious, seeing the human in them. All this is happening in a clarity which is breathtaking …

… in Christ …

To live in Christ is to gain your own freedom. You are, what you are. You are of unbelievable value, since God has made you, and he loves you. God gives value to each and every human on the planet - the small and the large, the poor and the rich, the important and less important people. Those who follow him, and those who do not follow him. To him they all matter!

In him, there is humility as deep as the oceans. There is self-confidence and self-awareness in an unparalleled way. He does not need applause from humans, yet he wants a relationship with them. And in his independence, he can find true relationships, true love! That is the miracle of Christ - the truth, clarity and love he brings, the mercy, filled with passion and appreciation.

Jesus had a lot of conflicts. He got into the conflicts since his passion led him into these. He cares about humans. He cares about honesty, about truth. That cannot be put to the side. Love includes truth and mercy. Love includes conflict where ever needed. To walk in Christ means all this, and much more: the hope and future he gives, and the change he brings, since his mercy is new every morning. What a promise to you and to me, today and tomorrow! (Roland Potthast) ... further texts