purpose

Read: Colossians 1:1-2:5

the word "purpose" only appears a total of 34 times in the entire translation of the Message. interestingly enough, though, it shows up 3 times just in the first chapter of Colossians and that's what caught my eye this morning. i really enjoy the little intro's that Peterson did to each book when he put together the Message and the one prior to Colossians explains how people often times acknowledge Christ as one of many important people, instead of grasping the preeminent importance he holds. and so Colossians immediately launches itself into establishing just how important Christ is by defining him and his ways as our purpose for existence. the living of his commands, the hope of heaven with him (v. 5), the presence of him in our lives (v. 27), and that everything begins and ends in him (v. 16-17).

and the unusual part of this purpose/life he's calling us to is that it's not some theoretical idea. it's not like he orders us about with no knowledge of the cost of what he's calling us to do. that it will require sacrifice. that at times it will be painful and seem hopeless. that it will estrange us from those we love. instead, he fully grasps this, having experienced it and lived it to an even fuller portion than we will ever experience ourselves.