“This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise.” (Isaiah 43:21, NKJV)
The apostle Paul was committed to exalting Jesus Christ in all things. In Colossians 1:15–20 we read:
We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body. He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.
—The Message
When we take time to read God’s Word, it reminds us of our focus … God’s glory. In this passage, we see Paul focusing on everything he knew about Christ. Even in the midst of incredible preaching success, Paul stayed true to his message of exalting Christ. However, it wasn’t always easy for Paul. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul had this to say:
We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.
—2 Corinthians 1:8–10, NLT
I love where Paul says, “We have placed our confidence in him.” Paul knew that he had been delivered by God’s power. Hard and scary times are difficult to endure, but God may lead us from time to time to experience them so that the life of Christ might be manifested in us. It is in the tough times that we learn to trust in the power of God to deliver us. It is the Holy Spirit working in us and through us that allows us to continue to exalt Christ no matter our circumstances.
In what ways are you currently exalting Christ?
Son Power empowers you to exalt Christ no matter your circumstances.