Week 15: Day 4

Intro: Hello and welcome back to Orbit: a short reflection to help you put God at the centre of your life, from the team behind Satellites - I'm Sam Donaghey and I’ll be leading us through our reading of Colossians 1. We will be through the Scripture, giving space for the Holy Spirit to speak to us, commit those things to him in prayer and think how to apply that our lives.

Bible: Today’s passage is Colossians 1:21-23:

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation – if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Thoughts: This, in essence is the simple gospel: we who were once far away, are now by the blood and resurrection of Jesus, treasures of the triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And, with our lives and in our identities as Children of God, put our lives toward serving the gospel and seeking the fulfilment of all the promises, for ourselves and the world around.

What do you focus on when you hear the gospel presented like this? Do you focus on the before? Or the after?

I find it quite interesting how sometimes in the church we can get caught up in the bit of the gospel that is about us being sinners but notice that most of the focus isn’t on that! It’s on the fact we have been made one, reconciled, brought into the kingdom, into the light of God! It’s not even really about us, but about the beautiful nature of God!

Far too often do we focus on things that we need changed about us or society, or we get caught up with the idea of accountability as being about confession of sins. We keep saying we are sinners saved by grace. Communion in a lot of churches is sometimes a solemn event. Now, all of that, to an extent, is right and good and holy. Respect for what Jesus has done during communion – great! Confession – healthy and holy! We definitly were sinners saved by grace!

But what joy! What joy we should be filled with that God has brought us into relationship with Himself. That our life is no longer just for ourselves, but for him. We are surrounded by His freedom, His mercy, His grace! We have direct access to the one who is THE most just, THE most joyful, THE most kind, THE most free, THE most peaceful, THE most loving being in all of creation.

So, let us take on celebration as a spiritual discipline. Laughing, dancing, singing, shouting, partying, eating, creating – all with joy and all making much of who God is. Because ultimately that’s what celebration does: it makes us take ourselves less seriously, but take Father, Son, and Holy Spirit much more seriously and what God has done in our lives.

this is a quote from Richard Foster, the author of a cracking book called Celebration of Discipline: ‘When the substance of our life is formed and conformed and transformed into Christlikeness, then celebration becomes possible… We can simply and joyfully celebrate the goodness of God in us and in those around us. Celebration is made possible as the common ventures of life are redeemed.’

In other words, when our life is made – by the power of the Holy Spirit and our obedience – to reflect more and more the life and person of Jesus, then we can burst with joy and make much of God in every part of our life. Just like what I said the other day: even the most boring parts of our life become an act of worship and a moment to meet with God, because He is shaping our hearts and lives to how they should have always been – a reflection of Him.

Prayer: Let’s pray: Jesus, I thank you that we are saved by grace, that you paid a great cost. I do not want to lose any sense of respect or honour of that. At the same time, I want to dance with you, I want to sing, I want to shout – because you are worthy! Because I now live with you and in you and for you, and you now live in me. Jesus, pour out your joy on all of us listening so that we may dance in the rain and sing and shout for joy and eat with gladness, with a deep sense of joy, reflecting who you are. Fill us afresh, Holy Spirit. Amen

Reflection: Let’s take a few moments to reflect upon what we’ve heard in the passage or something that I have shared.

Action: Off the back of celebration, here is my challenge. Get a couple of your friends together or even your youth group, and plan and throw a massive party celebrating Pentecost – the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the church. Make much of the fact that God has decided to dwell in us and with us. Have food! Have dancing! Have party games! Go the full way! Don’t do it in halves. And know that as you celebrate, the Holy Trinity is in your midst, dancing with you.

Outro: Thank you for listening and have a blessed day!