基督居首位
歌罗西书一章15至18节
15爱子是那不能看见之神的像，是首生的，在一切被造的以先。
16因为万有都是靠他造的，无论是天上的，地上的；能看见的，不能看见的；或是有位的，主治的，执政的，掌权的；一概都是借着他造的，又是为他造的。
17他在万有之先；万有也靠他而立。
18他也是教会全体之首。他是元始，是从死里首先复生的，使他可以在凡事上居首位。
信息分享
父神已将基督升到天上的最高位；而终有一天，天下万物将承认祂居首位的事实。但我们此刻所要面对的核心问题，乃是耶稣基督是否一直在我的生命中居首位？
有人可能会问：耶稣基督为何要在万物中居首位？今天的经文提供了答案。
第一，因为万有都是靠基督造的(16节)。
当我们把圣经中有关创造的经文汇合起来，将会发现三位一体神的每个位格都有分参与创造的过程，但神的儿子却占非常重要的角色。保罗更指出：「万物都是为祂造的」──岂不表示万物都是为了子的荣耀而被创造？
第二，因为万物都是由基督掌管(17节)。
经文说：「万有也是靠他而立」。我们很少想到，这是基督目前做着的工作之一。许多人告诉我们，这个世界──事实上，是整个宇宙──都服从一套固有的自然定律来运作；然而，对于这自然定律如何产生，他们却一无所知。
但神的话语却告诉我们，这位创造万物、曾经降世为人、深知人类一切软弱的基督，如今正掌管一切，又看顾我们的每一天。这个真理实在给我们很大的激励。
第三，因为基督是教会之首(18节)。
保罗清楚宣告，基督不单在万物中居首，祂更在教会中居首。教会是借着祂的死而得以建立起来。如今，祂看顾教会，直至将来把它带回荣耀的天家。
我们是否愿意在每天的生活中让基督居首位？这是父神的心意。基督是配得居首位的。
祷告：
圣灵啊，求你帮助我，使我懂得将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.