The “Songs of the Deliverer” series tells the story of Christ and the Apostles re-imagined in modern day. It is a work of fiction but the stories and characters are based on the New Testament. These Reflections feature Biblical verses referenced in the second book, Faith Wins.
Referenced in Chapter 20
There is a basic formula when disseminating information that has historically been practiced by journalists when plying their trade. Journalists are told to write in a way that answer the questions: who, what, when, where, and why.
Although the Apostle Paul wasn’t a journalist and didn’t work for a newspaper, he seems to have employed the same practice when writing his epistles. In his letter to the people of Colossae, Paul tells them the who, what, where, when, and why of Jesus Christ.
Who is Christ?
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15 – 17)
What do we believe?
“You, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, have now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him. (Colossians 1:21 – 22)
When is the time of the Gospel?
“Continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known.” (Colossians 1: 23 – 25)
Where will Christ lead us?
“You have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1 – 4)
Why do we follow Christ?
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:12 – 14)
Jesus Christ is who we follow, being reconciled with God through Christ’s death and resurrection is what we believe, now is when the time of the gospel is to be known as the word of God, raised with Christ is where he will lead us, and being bound together in love is why we follow Christ. That’s the who, what, when, where, and why of Jesus Christ according to Paul.
And there is one more question journalists seek to answer in their stories: how? For Paul, the answer is clear. This is how we live each day in honor of Jesus Christ:
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:16 – 17)
Amen.
Here is link to the book on Amazon: Songs of the Deliverer II – Faith Wins
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