The writer of Colossians says some pretty bold and audacious things concerning Jesus.  Claims such as, "He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth
were created, things visible and invisible, . . ."  And if that's enough of
a resume, the writer goes on to say, "whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers-all things have been created through him and for him.  He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together."  I can understand how non-Christians don't buy this, but what I can't fathom is why believers in Jesus swear allegiance to anything but him.  I'm not saying we shouldn't obey the laws of our land, for that would be treason and lead to anarchy.  But it strikes me just how much we put Jesus back in his place when it comes to life outside the church.  It's as if we praise him as our ruler- the king and messiah for an hour on Sundays but at precisely 12:01 PM, we give our decision choices over to other people, things, systems.  Some anonymous Christian challenged this a long time ago: "He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything."  Everything.  If we're honest with ourselves, we'd have to say Jesus often has to struggle to stay in first place.  The challenge for Christians in America is to be very clear of our priorities.

Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord.  Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord.  Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply.  I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.  In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

 

May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.  He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him.  He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.  For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.