Colossians 2:9-10- For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. NKJV
I was riding in the car the other day when a song came on by Casting Crowns. Maybe you’ve heard of it “Broken Together”? A line in the song says, “Maybe you and I were never meant to be complete, but broken together.” I played the YouTube video of the song just now to make sure I had the words right, the thought behind the music. The song addresses that after years of marriage, people aren’t always living happily ever after. As a matter of fact, they thought they would make each other complete, only to discover that they were both broken but could be broken together. For me, this is a sad state of affairs.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians:
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Colossians 2:10 NKJV
Whether you read this verse in context or take it out, the truth remains the same: God’s people are made complete in Jesus! But let’s look at it in context. Paul wrote:
For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:1-3 NKJV
Paul begins his discourse by stating that he’s having a difficult time with the fact that he hasn’t been able to visit with the believers in Colosse and Laodicea. Because if he had, he would have been able to encourage them and have a greater impact on their understanding of Jesus. But since he could only write a letter to them, he wanted to clarify that everything they needed to know and understand about God the Father and Jesus, the Christ, are treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden in Him. That truth is still applicable today! If there are things we don’t understand, we don’t lean on our understanding of a situation or the world’s thoughts about it; we seek the wisdom of God.
Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
Colossians 2:4-5 NKJV
Paul stated that he was sharing this with the believers because he didn’t want them to be deceived with persuasive words. There are a lot of influential people in the world. Believers and non-believers who have a philosophy about life, the Bible, God, marriage, and a host of other things. We all have opinions. But when we are conveying a message to believers, it should always have a biblical foundation that provides hope in Christ. I can’t speak for everyone else, but I can say that if I have to live this life thinking that I will never be anything but broken, that’s pretty depressing!
I’ve been meditating on this verse all week. I wasn’t sure how to convey what I believed in my heart that Paul was saying to the church at Colosse and ultimately to us. When I woke up this morning, a song burned in my heart. I didn’t understand the purpose immediately, although I fully agree with the message. Now I know it was to encourage me in what I believe is the truth of this verse in Colossians 2: 10. It was sung years ago by Tramaine Hawkins and is called “The Potter’s House!” My favorite part in the song is, “You who are broken, stop by the Potter’s house! You who need mending, stop by the Potter’s house! Give Him the fragments of your broken life, my friend; the Potter wants to put you back together again!”
Isn’t that the gospel message? Jesus takes the brokenness of our lives and makes them complete in Him! He takes the weary and gives them rest! And only He can do so! Paul continues his discourse:
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Colossians 2:8 NKJV
Warning! Warning! Warning! Be on the lookout for those who try to use philosophical jargon and empty words meant to deceive you because of their traditions or how the world views life. Because you can be assured they are coming for you to trick you and cause you to believe that what the Word of God says is not true for everyone. Just look around you! People are Christians, and they are broken. Christians are hurting! They are struggling to make mortgage payments, pay their rent, keep their families together, and make it through the day. So it’s okay if they drink a little bourbon to calm their nerves, use a little cannabis to make it through the day, or read the horoscope to find answers. Everybody does it! No! Everybody is not doing it! And if you want to be complete in Him, you must believe that only He can make you complete!
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 1:2-4 NKJV
Peter wrote that God, through His divine power, has given us every single thing that we need for life and godliness. There is no hope and no help for us from any other source. I believe in education, but my education is not my hope in this life! Jesus is my hope! My education doesn’t dictate my success or lack thereof! Jesus does! I absolutely love and respect my husband, but he doesn’t make me complete; Jesus makes me complete!
I’m not broken in Christ; I’m just not perfect. I make mistakes and get things wrong sometimes. Not because I’m broken but because I am human. And so are you! Our victory in Jesus has been won, but it is up to us to enforce that victory! It is up to us to agree with God! God’s word states that we are complete in Him, so guess what? We are! Be encouraged in Him today! Wonderful Jesus!
Wonderful Jesus! 