By Carey Helmink

Colossians 3:1-4,11

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

As I was praying about what to share today, the phrase that kept popping into my head was the “preeminence of Christ.” It almost makes me laugh because that is something that should pop into the head of a super smart person, and I am really not that. But it has been a reminder to me of the fact that Jesus surpasses everyone and everything in life and that his name should be on my lips in every situation.

When Catastrophe strikes – is his name the first name I speak? The first person I call out to for help? The one who is my place of refuge and my firm foundation?

When days of Celebration come – is his name the first name I speak? The first person I thank? The one I rejoice with and give credit to?

And maybe most importantly, on Common days – is his name the first name I speak? The one I ask for guidance and instruction? The one I share my thoughts with?

I don’t know about you, but often I need to be reminded of the preeminence of Jesus. That He is above all and over all and in all and through all. May the words to this prayer by William Barclay help to remind you of Jesus and his preeminence over all of life.

“O God, our Father, we remember at this time…how the eternal Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

We thank you that Jesus took our human body upon him, so that we can never again dare to despise or neglect or misuse the body, since you made it your dwelling-place.

We thank you that Jesus did a day’s work like any working-man, that he knew the problem of living together in a family, that he knew the frustration and irritation of serving the public, that he had to earn a living, and to face all the wearing routine of everyday work and life and living, and so clothed each common task with glory.

We thank you that he shared in all happy social occasions, that he was at home at weddings and at dinners and at festivals in the homes of simple ordinary people like ourselves. Grant that we may ever remember that in his unseen risen presence he is a guest in every home.

We thank you that he knew what friendship means, that he had his own circle of men whom he wanted to be with him, that he knew too what it means to be let down, to suffer from disloyalty and from the failure of love.

We thank you that he too had to bear unfair criticism, prejudiced opposition, malicious and deliberate misunderstanding.

We thank you that whatever happens to us, he has been there before, and that, because he himself has gone through things, he is able to help those who are going through them.

Help us never to forget that he knows life, because he lived life, and that he is with us at all times to enable us to live victoriously.

This we ask for your love’s sake. Amen.”