“Livin’ Large is experiencing the new life we have in Christ. It is living the Christian life in the power of the Holy Spirit and it is practicing (Ephesians 4-6) our position (Ephesians 1-3).”
Colossians 1:28-29
28 We proclaim Christ, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
The Apostle Paul was a Great Commission man. His passion was to know Christ and to make Christ known. The book of Acts reveals that when Paul surrendered to Christ and believed the gospel, the whole course of his life was fixed on mission. Colossians 1:28-29 describes three things about the Apostle’s life orientation: His passion, His purpose and His power.
Paul’s passion was to preach Christ. He admonished and taught everyone he could with the wisdom God provided. Paul was singularly committed to the gospel and to gospel preaching. Though not called to be Apostle’s in the unique sense as Paul, each of us as followers of Christ are called to be His witnesses. We need to cultivate a passion for the gospel and a compassion for lost people. We should ask God to give us His heart and meditate often on the life transforming truths of Christ’s good news.
Paul’s purpose was to present as many people as possible as perfect and mature in Christ. Paul was a disciple-maker. Like Paul, we need to take the Great Commission seriously. We ought to seek in every way, with all of our resources, the goal of seeing people come to salvation and growing to maturity in Christ. This first of all includes ourselves and then our families and then our neighbors and friends. Seeing people become complete in Christ is God’s vision.
Lastly, Paul served the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit. It was God’s power that worked in Him and through Him. Experiencing the power of Christ in us and through us is God’s will for our lives. We are to serve, to give, to pray and to preach in His power. Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit. Surrender to Him and daily depend on Him for your strength.
Paul lived as a gospel man. Like him, we are to be Livin’ Large!