In Christ alone
I am the Lord your God who brought you … out of the house of slavery;
You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:2-3
Read Colossians 2:6—14
I am part of a church because I am made to be part of a body. I’m not a spare rib that can have some independent life. When I pray on my own in my quiet time I can’t help using words that have been formed by those who have nurtured me and held me. I’m not meant to be free of the communion of the saints. Yet I’m warned about them, all the same, often in the scripture. In the church there will always be human traditions, empty deceits, stray philosophies not coming from Christ, but seeking to improve on him, to add to him. They’ll come from the left and the right, the conservative and the liberal, the reasoned and inspired, long-tried and novel. But any attempt to add to Christ will only subtract from him. When I let him be truly who he is, I meet all the fullness of God. And I find all that is sufficient for me to be who I was made to be.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world. In you I meet with all the fullness of God. In you all that God has to say to me has been spoken and still speaks. In you all the promises of God are ‘Yes.’ Therefore I can not improve on trusting you simply and faithfully. I cannot move beyond seeking to obey you simply and faithfully. And if I have anything to boast of I can only boast in you, simply and faithfully.