A great many obsessions permeate our world. People obsessed with one thing are usually fairly easy to spot. These are people who orchestrate their lives around one central theme or event. Olympians are obsessed with the pursuit of gold. Professional sports figures with their particular sport and the related work outs. Some are obsessed with financial gain and center their lives around money and endeavors to gain more. Some cannot get enough of learning, some cannot get enough of shopping, for some its a hobby, for others it is relationships, and the list could continue. The bottom line is this, we are a people easily obsessed.
Could it be, however, that there is an appropriate obsession? Paul, the author of the of numerous books in the New Testament, would no doubt say yes. His writings regularly demonstrate his obsession but especially so in his letter to the Ephesians. A friend of mine recently pointed this out to me, but consider Paul's obsession in the first chapter of Ephesians (though this continues throughout the book): 45 times in the 23 verses of the first chapter Paul either mentions Jesus Christ specifically or refers directly to him (ie. He, Him, His).
A Christ-centered letter from a Christ-centered man to a people who are to be likewise Christ-centered.
What's your obsession?
4 comments:
I know at the Last Day I'll be made into the perfect likeness of Jesus Christ, but if only I could attain even an imperfect likeness of Paul in this life, I'd probably be doing pretty good at reflecting Christ. Oh, to have an attitude like his!
Yes,
I pray that I would be made more Christ obsessed.
I agree Brothers.
More of Him, less of me. "He must increase, I must decrease." May we ever keep Christ before us and fight diligently to keep everything else out of the way.
Well said. Reminds me of the Steven Curtis Chapman song "Magnificent Obsession." I'm obsessed with Christ . . . sometimes. Need to make it all the time.
Love your blog! Thanks for visiting mine.
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