基督居首位
歌羅西書一章15至18節
15愛子是那不能看見之神的像，是首生的，在一切被造的以先。
16因為萬有都是靠他造的，無論是天上的，地上的；能看見的，不能看見的；或是有位的，主治的，執政的，掌權的；一概都是藉著他造的，又是為他造的。
17他在萬有之先；萬有也靠他而立。
18他也是教會全體之首。他是元始，是從死裡首先復生的，使他可以在凡事上居首位。
信息分享
父神已將基督升到天上的最高位；而終有一天，天下萬物將承認祂居首位的事實。但我們此刻所要面對的核心問題，乃是耶穌基督是否一直在我的生命中居首位？
有人可能會問：耶穌基督為何要在萬物中居首位？今天的經文提供了答案。
第一，因為萬有都是靠基督造的(16節)。
當我們把聖經中有關創造的經文匯合起來，將會發現三位一體神的每個位格都有分參與創造的過程，但神的兒子卻佔非常重要的角色。保羅更指出：「萬物都是為祂造的」──豈不表示萬物都是為了子的榮耀而被創造？
第二，因為萬物都是由基督掌管(17節)。
經文說：「萬有也是靠他而立」。我們很少想到，這是基督目前做著的工作之一。許多人告訴我們，這個世界──事實上，是整個宇宙──都服從一套固有的自然定律來運作；然而，對於這自然定律如何產生，他們卻一無所知。
但神的話語卻告訴我們，這位創造萬物、曾經降世為人、深知人類一切軟弱的基督，如今正掌管一切，又看顧我們的每一天。這個真理實在給我們很大的激勵。
第三，因為基督是教會之首(18節)。
保羅清楚宣告，基督不單在萬物中居首，祂更在教會中居首。教會是藉著祂的死而得以建立起來。如今，祂看顧教會，直至將來把它帶回榮耀的天家。
我們是否願意在每天的生活中讓基督居首位？這是父神的心意。基督是配得居首位的。
禱告：
聖靈啊，求你幫助我，使我懂得將基督放在人生的首位。
CHRIST IN FIRST PLACE
Colossians 1:15-18
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Message
God the Father has given Jesus Christ the highest place in heaven and one day all the world will recognise this. But right now the main point for us in this is: Is Jesus Christ continually first in my life?
Someone may ask: Why should Jesus Christ be first in everything? Our verses today give the answers.
1. Because Christ is the Creator of all things (v. 16). When we put together the references in the Bible regarding creation, we discover that all three persons in the Godhead were involved, but particularly God the Son. As John says 'Without him, nothing was made that was made'. He was the Father's agent in creation. Paul even adds the words 'all things were created for him'-does that mean all is for the glory of the Son?
2. Because Christ is the controller of all things (v. 17). 'By him all things are held together', or consist. There is something thrilling and refreshing about this aspect of our Lord's present ministry. Men tell us that the world, in fact the whole universe, obeys certain laws of nature and these laws were made by an unknown power.
But God's Word tells us we are in the hands of a creator God who has lived here in our world and who knows our human weaknesses and cares daily for us. As the song says 'He's got the whole wide world in his hands'.
3. Because Christ is the Church's head (v. 18). Paul declares plainly that Christ has the same position of authority in the Church as he has in the created world. He founded the Church and he made its existence possible by his death. He lives to take care of it until he takes it home to glory.
Are we willing to make Christ first in our lives day by day? This is what God the Father wants us to do. That is the place Christ deserves.
A PRAYER: Holy Spirit, please help me to put Christ first in everything today.