Priorities Part 5: Jesus as Lord of the Home
The goal is not simply to have Christ in our home. The goal is for our home to increasingly look like Christ.
The Home
Everything begins at in the home
Legacy is built in the home
Generational blessings are created in the home
The Stand
14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” - Joshua 24:15
In this we see how quickly things can change in just one generation
This affected an entire nation, but started in the homes
Today a similar stand is needed
We need to make Christ the Lord of our homes
The Answer
The answer is found in who Jesus is
The goal is not simply to have Christ in our home. The goal is for our home to increasingly look like Christ.
The Perfect Image
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. - Colossians 1:15
The word image refers to an exact visible representation of something or someone.
Here is our reference point, our standard, our method of testing
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. - Romans 8:29
If Christ is the perfect image of God, and we are being conformed to the image of Christ, then our homes should increasingly become a clearer picture of what God is like.
Conclusion
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. - Colossians 1:16
Christ is supreme over creation because he is the Creator.
Our homes ultimately exists for Christ.
17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. - Colossians 1:17
If Christ is the sustainer of creation, He must be the sustainer of our home
A home becomes disordered when everything else is expected to hold it together: money, careers, personalities, children, comfort, or success.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. - Colossians 1:18
If Christ has preeminence (first place) in everything, the home cannot be an exception.
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. - Colossians 1:19-20
The term “fullness” here and throughout the letter recalls its use in the OT, where God “filled” the temple with his presence.
If Christ dwells in our home, the fullness of God is in and throughout our homes
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, - Colossians 1:21-22
Now, because of Christ, we are presented as holy and blameless before God
23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. - Colossians 1:23
Paul's concern is that the Colossians know the truth about Jesus, but competing ideas are attempting to move them away from Him.
The danger is not necessarily that they will completely reject Christ.
The danger is that Christ will no longer remain their controlling center.
Christ’s Place
If Jesus is the object of the Bible, shouldn’t He be the object of our home?
If Jesus is the full manifestation of God, shouldn’t He be fully manifested in our home?
If Jesus is the sustainer of all things, shouldn’t He be the sustainer of our home?
If Jesus is the head of the church, shouldn’t He be the head in our home?
Living It Out
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. - Colossians 2:6-10
Decide who your home belongs to
For the home, the first question is:
Who gets the final say in how we live?
Every household develops its own way of doing things.
We have preferences, habits, traditions, expectations, and routines.
Paul brings us back to the starting point, we received Jesus as Lord, so we continue living under His lordship.
Receive Christ
Build your home intentionally around Christ
Root it.
What truth are we putting into our home?
Build it.
What habits are we developing because of that truth?
Establish it.
What convictions are becoming settled and non-negotiable?
Celebrate it.
Are we regularly recognizing God's goodness with thanksgiving?
What we repeatedly teach becomes what we believe. What we repeatedly practice becomes how we live.
Receive Christ → Build on Christ
What influences reign in our household?
Filter 1: Is it based on human thinking?
Filter 2: Where is this leading us spiritually?
Filter 3: Does this agree with the character, teaching, priorities, and lordship of Jesus Christ?
Receive Christ → Build on Christ → Filter everything through Christ
Paul finishes the thought by returning to the sufficiency of Jesus.
This means the Christian family does not have to chase everything the world says is necessary to become complete.
Receive Christ → Build on Christ → Filter everything through Christ → Live from Christ’s sufficiency